| by Brito Fernando
( January 6, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) I and Prasanga Fernando an activist of "Street Protest” were alarmed to find two freshly severed heads of dogs in front of our homes on the night of 4th December 2015.
I was out with my family and returned home at around 10.30 p.m. in the evening. When we arrived home I found a bag hanging from my gate which was locked. Although I had a suspicion that something was amiss, I did not inspect the bag at the time since my wife and daughters were with me. Seeing the bag on the gate my daughter started to cry. I calmed her down and told her that is should be someone joke and that it might contain some fish. After I escorted my family into the house, I returned early morning at around 6 a.m. to inspect the contents of the bag. At this point to my disgust I noted that the bag contained freshly severed head of a dog with a lot of blood still on it.
When I informed my colleagues, I came to know that Prasanga has also found a similar parcel in his garden and that it too contained a severed head of a dog cut off at the neck.
We both lodged complaints at the Negombo police station - CEB 11 33/53 and CEB 11 34 / 53 following which a police officer arrived and inspected both our homes and the bags with the heads of the dogs.
I accused that the same persons who put up posters in the Negombo area and threw stones at my house during the Annual Commemoration ceremony for the disappeared on October 27th, had also performed this gruesome act. Following this, several media organizations arrived and recorded statemetns from me .
I am making attempts to contact the Western Provincial Minister,Mr. Nimal Lanza , and also the Minister of Fisheries Mr. Sarath Kumara Gunaratna to inquire as to whether they would assist in finding the culprits of this inhuman act.
We have clearly taken this as a warning to us, to discourage us taking part in the election campaign "against the craze- Street protest".
We urge you to take whatever steps necessary to protest against such gruesome acts and for the protection of our lives.
Brito Fernando is heading the Right to Life Human Rights Center, a local rights body based in Colombo