Praise and blame

New Zealand PM John Key's visit, while seen as a fillip for the dairy industry has drawn criticism from animal rights activists crying foul over Sri Lanka's gifting of a baby elephant:

by Rukshana Rizwie

The Prime Minister said the dairy cooperation projects, worth around $5.9 million (Rs 563 million), are part of New Zealand’s on-going commitment to Sri Lanka and will see local dairy farmers benefit from the expertise of New Zealand’s world-class farming industry

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key arrived in Sri Lanka accompanied by a high-level business delegation including Fonterra chairman John Wilson.

Analysts said the visit strengthened existing business ties, while promoting commercial links with New Zealand. During the first two days of his visit, Prime Minister Key launched two dairy development projects in Colombo aimed at supporting Sri Lankan dairy farmers and boosting New Zealand's role in Sri Lanka's dairy industry.

The Prime Minister said that the dairy cooperation projects, worth around $5.9 million (Rs 563 million), are part of New Zealand's on-going commitment to Sri Lanka and will see local dairy farmers benefit from the expertise of New Zealand's world-class farming industry.

The two projects including 'the Dairy Training Excellence Initiative', will help local smallholder dairy farmers, provide training on reproduction, farm economics, nutrition and safe milk handling. Around 20 master trainers and 180 extension staff will be trained by New Zealand experts to work with farmers on 3,000 on farms.

The second project is an extension to the Wanni Dairy Regeneration Activity, which helps post-conflict communities in the north to generate a sustainable agricultural income.

The new phase of the Wanni Dairy Regeneration Activity will boost Sri Lankan dairy production and improve the quality of life of families across nine districts in the Northern, Eastern and North Central Provinces.

Rural youth

This project is expected to benefit 7,500 smallholder dairy households and 10,000 rural youth in the next five years.

Prime Minister Key also held bilateral talks with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and praised Sri Lanka's efforts on the reconciliation front citing that it had made tremendous progress last year.

He told reporters the New Zealand government was supportive of Sri Lanka. He said that the Government of Sri Lanka was working hard to deal with issues of reconciliation and it should be commended for the work undertaken.

He referred to Sri Lanka as being a 'real shining light in the Asian region', while praising the progressive path citing that Sri Lanka has taken many fruitful measures towards reconciliation aiming to strengthen permanent peace

During the visit Prime Minister John Key was given a certificate to a baby elephant during his visit to Sri Lanka, as part of an agreement with Auckland Zoo. The deed to five-year-old female Nandi was presented by Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena to Key during a ceremony in Colombo, after the signing of the agreement with Auckland Zoo.

It is the second elephant given to New Zealand by Sri Lanka; an eight-year-old female, Anjalee, was flown to Auckland in June. A spokeswoman for Auckland Zoo said on Thursday it was the "next step in a long-standing and carefully planned programme of co-operation between Auckland Zoo and Sri Lankan authorities".

Sri Lanka, which has been indulging in the practice of gifting elephants angered activists who have been demanding the practice should be stopped. Sagarika Rajakarunanayake, head of the Sathva Mithra (Friends of Animals) group, told AFP that previous pleas had been ignored by the government. She said they had written to the government asking to stop the practice but it has fallen on deaf ears.

Animal activists were concerned that Nandi, who lived in tropical climes would suffer in New Zealand's cooler temperatures. Executive director of the animal rights group SAFE Hans Kriek told stuff.co.nz, that offering of the elephant was more about "politics and international relationships than animal welfare."However, contrary to claims, PM Key said eight-year-old Anjalee who was also gifted to New Zealand has done extremely well, since she left the island in March last year. Key said Anjalee had gained 700 kilograms.

"Anjalee loves life in New Zealand and I am sure his friend too will have a good time in New Zealand."