Minister instructs to increase fine for cattle theft to Rs. one million

The Agriculture Ministry reported that cattle thefts are currently on the rise across the country. Under the existing Animal Welfare Act, the maximum fine for cattle theft is Rs 50,000. Apart from that, there is no mention of imprisonment for that.

Taking this matter into consideration, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera advised the officials of the Livestock Development Division of Agriculture Ministry to amend the Animal Welfare Act by including clauses to impose a fine of Rs. one million and at least imprisonment is one year with the heavy work.

A discussion regarding the new amendments to the Animal Welfare Act was held recently at the Agriculture Ministry. At the request of MP Udaya Gammanpila, in this discussion held with a group of animal welfare association representatives, the minister mentioned that new amendments should be included in the clauses related to the increase in dairy cattle theft and the punishment given to dairy cattle thieves.

Accordingly, the minister also advised to increase the current fine of Rs.50,000 to Rs.10 lakhs in the case of theft of a dairy cow, and to introduce provisions to impose a one-year prison sentence with at least hard labour, as the law does not currently contain prison sentences.

The minister said that last week the cow that gave the highest amount of milk per day in Anuradhapura district was also stolen and killed and also mentioned that 26 litres of milk was obtained from that cow per day.

The minister said that the Police Department has been requested to take measures to combat cattle theft on several occasions. Gampaha district has the highest number of cattle thefts in our country.

MP Udaya Gammanpila congratulated Minister Amaraweera regarding the merger of the Plantation Industry Ministry with the Agriculture Ministry.

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