After an outbreak of Cold Shock Deaths, Sri Lanka bans beef and mutton transport
The orders were issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to ensure the safety of public health, officials said.
A ban on the transport of beef and mutton between districts has been imposed by Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe after hundreds of cattle and goats died amid unusually cold weather.
Due to unusually cold weather occurring in parts of northern and eastern provinces, Sri Lanka suspended the transport of beef and mutton on Saturday.
Three hundred and fifty-eight cattle and 191 goats died in the Northern Province on September 8 and 9, while four hundred and forty-four cattle and 34 buffalo died in the Eastern Province.
Ban of Beef
In a statement, the President’s office said transporting beef from district to district and province is banned immediately for reasons of public health.
It came after cattle, buffalo, and goats had died suddenly in Kilinocchio, Mullativu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara.”
In accordance with preliminary investigations, the statement quotes Hemali Kothelawala, the Director of Animal Production and Health as saying that the animals died from hypothermic shock.
Several laboratories are conducting further investigations.
Cause of the death
With tropical Cyclone Mandous drawing air from India, Sri Lanka has experienced unusually cold weather and air pollution.
Most of the animals that died were in open spaces and were exposed to the elements, according to veterinary officials.
Wind chill can exacerbate hypothermic shock from cold stress.
At the Veterinary Research Institute on Saturday and Sunday, specimens of animals will be tested by the Department of Animal Production and Health.
Cyclone Mandos
The Bay of Bengal was the origin of the cyclonic storm “Mandous,” which is expected to become a low-pressure region before making landfall on December 9, close to Chennai.
For the coastal regions of north Tamilnadu, Rayalseema, and south Andhra Pradesh on December 9–10, the Indian Metrological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall and severe winds.
The Trincomalee district and province of Sri Lanka have both received alerts for heavy rainfall over 100 mm and high winds gusting between 50 and 60 kph on December 8 and 9.
Also read: Children in Sri Lanka are going hungry as food prices rise.
