Zoo animals starve due to Sri Lanka woes

Colombo: Animals in Sri Lanka's main zoo in Dehiwela on Colombo's outskirts cannot be fed properly for want of funds, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The Island quoted Agriculture, Wildlife and Wildlife Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera as saying that steps would be taken in consultation with the Treasury to provide the "relevant financial allocations" soon.

Amaraweera said that according to officials of the Department of Zoological Gardens, they had no money to provide daily food to animals at the Dehiwala Zoo and other zoos.

Zoo officials said the problem had been exasperated by a decline in visitors. They also pointed out that money allocated by the government in the budget hadn’t been received yet.

As much as Rs 59 million had to be paid to the suppliers and another Rs. 120 million was necessary for the rest of the year.

Sri Lanka is battling its worst ever economic crisis that seen its currency plunge and led to widespread shortages of even essential commodities including food, fuel and medicines. (UNI)