The Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC) has accused authorities of carrying out inhumane and state-sanctioned cruelty in Thumpane, where large numbers of monkeys have reportedly been confined in cages without food or shelter for several days.
In a letter addressed to Central Province Governor Prof. Sarath Abeykoon, the AWC said video footage circulating on social media shows terrified monkeys — including some dead or dying — packed into cages, crying in distress and exposed to heavy rain and intense sunlight.
The organisation noted that this is not the first time such incidents have occurred, citing previous cases of monkeys being similarly confined in areas under the Kandy Municipal Council and Harispattuwa Pradeshiya Sabha.
The AWC said it had earlier urged authorities to coordinate any monkey-catching operations with the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) to prevent prolonged and inhumane confinement. Despite those requests, the coalition alleges that the same mistreatment has resurfaced in Thumpane.
According to the AWC, Prof. Dangolla of the VTH has confirmed that no monkeys have been captured under his supervision in the past week and that Thumpane is not part of his pilot programme, raising questions over who authorised the current operation.
The coalition has called for immediate intervention to stop what it describes as “state-sanctioned, hideous cruelty” towards wildlife.
