June 26, Colombo: Today, the Wildlife Department gave a pledge before the Court of Appeal that Macaque monkeys will not be exported to China.

Deputy Solicitor General Manohara Jayasinghe, representing the Department of Wildlife, made this promise when a writ petition filed by a group of environmental activists to nullify the decision taken to export 100,000 monkeys to China was called before the Court of Appeal.

When the petition was taken up for consideration before an Appellate Court bench comprising Chairman Judge Nishanka Bandula Karunaratne and Judge A. Marikkar, the Deputy Solicitor General agreed and then it was ordered that the petition be called again on July 6th.

This petition was filed by 27 parties including Sri Lanka Wildlife and Environment Protection Association, Ven. Matara Ananda Sagara Thero, Otara Gunawardena, and Rukshan Jayawardena.

The petitioners claim that there have been reports that the government is preparing to export 100,000 monkeys to China and information has been revealed that as the first step, 10,000 monkeys are to be exported.

The petitioners pointing out that this action is completely contrary to the provisions of the Flora and Fauna Ordinance Act as well as the Animal Cruelty Prevention Act have stated that this action will have a negative impact on the biodiversity of the Sri Lankan environment.

The petitioners had asked the Court of Appeal to issue a writ order to annul the decision as it was unclear for what purpose the monkeys were to be exported.