The Anuradhapura Governor’s Office has reportedly decided to remove stray dogs from the Anuradhapura city limits in preparation for the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision was confirmed by the veterinarians of the Humane Management of Animal Populations Association.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka for a three-day official visit during the first week of April. As part of his itinerary, he will visit Anuradhapura to pay homage to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and inaugurate various projects sponsored by the Indian government under the Sri Lanka Railways Department.
According to Dr. Chamith Nanayakkara, an advisor to the Humane Management of Animal Populations Association, the decision was made following a joint discussion involving the Anuradhapura Governor’s Office and the Municipal Commissioner. The Anuradhapura Municipal Council has been instructed to implement the decision, with the Municipal Veterinary Department tasked with executing the program immediately.
Dr. Nanayakkara further noted that a five-year project sponsored by the Anuradhapura Municipal Council is currently ongoing, aimed at vaccinating and sterilizing stray dogs in the area. He emphasized that more than 90 percent of the stray dogs have already been vaccinated and sterilized, and that there have been no reported incidents of rabies since the project commenced.
The Daily Mirror also reported that the Anuradhapura Municipal Council Commissioner confirmed that a meeting was recently held regarding the Indian Prime Minister’s visit. During this meeting, concerns were raised about stray dogs and cows roaming the streets. As a precaution, instructions were given to inform dog and cattle owners not to release their animals for two days until Prime Minister Modi departs from Anuradhapura city.
