Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is having its fallout in unexpected areas. Employees in Sri Lanka’s National Zoological Gardens in capital Colombo have threatened to stop feeding the zoo animals there, demanding payments of their allowances and removal of officials who are accused of misappropriation of funds. 

Protestors alleged that the risk allowance, which all zoo employees are entitled to, was only paid to a fraction of the staff. The protest has been going on for the last four days and workers had limited their duties to feeding the animals while neglecting to clean the cages and the general zoo premises.

“We will stop feeding these animals as well. We will not take responsibility for these animals’ lives,” Suranga Fonseka, Secretary of the Dehiwala Zoological Garden Activists’ Union, was quoted as saying by EconomyNext. 

Since the last year, a number of animals in the zoo have died and workers alleged that the cause of deaths has not been investigated properly. 

Meanwhile, Shermila Rajapaksa, director-general at the Department of National Zoological Gardens, said the protest came after she launched an investigation into an illegal fertilizer business that had been operating out of the zoo premises since 2019. She claimed she had also refused to help a union leader with a personnel matter.  

“The [protestors] say because they worked to bring this government into power, they want to work only with SLPP unions and remove others,” Rajapaksa said.

Last year, the government has banned the use of harmful chemical fertilizer, which party resulted in the growing black marketing of fertilizer. 

The government also came to know about the existence of illegal welfare bank accounts operating by the employees, which were later blocked by them. Following this, a union leader, associated with the ruling party, requested the government to allow them to continue to operate these accounts. 

“I don’t know how many illegal accounts they have opened under the name of the Zoological Garden Employees Welfare in other banks, Rajapaksa said, claiming further, “Opposing my investigation regarding this matter is the reason they are now protesting against me.”

(SAM)