Colombo, Sept. 13 -- The Sri Lanka Government's reported decision to ban cattle slaughter, as expected, has generated much controversy. It includes the hackneyed allegation that the move smacks of anti-Muslim Sinhala Buddhist racism although historical records (including the writings of Robert Knox) show that there was no cattle slaughter let alone a meat industry as such in this country until the European encounter. Those who wanted to taste animal flesh went fishing or hunting for wild boar and deer or bought the meat from Veddas.

Although Muslims lived in the country and even served the kings at the time there are no reports of their engaging in cattle slaughter. These Muslims followed their religion but fell in line with Buddhist and...