Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-02-27

Obtaining exotic animals to the Department of National Zoological Gardens

- The Dehiwala National Zoological Gardens is being presently modernized by adopting the provisions of proper animal welfare and therefore, it is essential to obtain animals for exhibition purposes. Obtaining animals through animal exchange programmes conducted by the different worldwide Zoological gardens and obtaining excess animals donated by Foreign Zoological gardens are the main strategies adopted for the purpose. Further, focus had been made to ascertain the possibility of purchasing animals from the parties and institutions that import animals to Sri Lanka to raise them.

Accordingly, the proposal which had been made by Hon. Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, the then Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, to authorize the Director General of National Zoological Gardens to obtain animals through animal exchange and animal donation programmes and to purchase foreign birds and domestic animals from the parties and institutions that import to Sri Lanka. by following the proper procurement procedures, until the provisions in the National Zoological Gardens Act, No.41 of 1982 pertaining to the implementation of the animal exchange programme are amended, taking into consideration the concurrence of Hon. Ravindra Samaraweera the present Minister, in-charge of the subject as well, was approved by the Cabinet.