A Voice for the Voiceless: Sahana Ravishankar’s Lifelong Mission to Save Colombo’s Street Animals

There are few things more heartbreaking than seeing an animal suffer in silence. Humans can express hunger, pain and distress, ask for help and seek comfort. But the thousands of dogs and cats living on the streets have no such voice. They endure hunger, thirst, injuries, illness and abuse, often without anyone noticing their suffering.

Yet, for one Sri Lankan woman, their silent suffering became a lifelong calling. Sahana Ravishankar has dedicated a significant part of her life to caring for Colombo’s most vulnerable street animals, demonstrating that compassion is not merely an emotion but a responsibility that demands action.

As the driving force behind the animal welfare initiative Purrs & Woofs SL, Sahana has transformed what began as a small act of kindness into a substantial community-driven effort that has been changing animal lives since 2015.

Her journey began with helping a rescue dog in Peliyagoda. What may have appeared to be an isolated act of kindness gradually developed into a much larger mission. Today, the programme provides food for approximately 500 to 600 dogs and cats every week across several areas, including Nawala, Udahamulla, Peliyagoda, Orugodawatta, Dematagoda, Colombo 10 and Maharagama.

Behind these numbers lies an extraordinary amount of work. Preparing food for hundreds of hungry animals is no simple undertaking. Each week, Sahana prepares approximately 50 kilograms of rice and 40 kilograms of chicken, supplemented with other nutritious ingredients, including fish. The meals are then packed into large containers and distributed across different locations where street animals depend on this regular supply.

The preparation, transportation and feeding process demands hours of physical effort. Although volunteers occasionally assist, there have been days when much of the responsibility has fallen on her shoulders alone.

However, Sahana’s commitment extends far beyond feeding. Through Purrs & Woofs SL, she also assists in rescuing injured animals, arranging veterinary treatment, caring for vulnerable young animals, organising vaccinations and finding permanent homes for abandoned dogs and cats. She also contributes to sterilisation programmes aimed at preventing uncontrolled breeding and reducing the growing population of animals on the streets.

What makes her story even more remarkable is that this humanitarian commitment exists alongside her professional life as an attorney. Rather than limiting her contribution to occasional acts of charity, she has made animal welfare an integral part of her everyday existence. She also provides care for animals in her own home while working tirelessly to find them suitable adoptive families.

Nevertheless, such a demanding mission comes with considerable challenges. The rising cost of food, veterinary treatment, medicines and transportation places an enormous financial burden on the programme. The shortage of regular volunteers further complicates an already demanding operation.

There have reportedly been occasions when Sahana exhausted her personal savings to meet the needs of the animals. At times, even veterinary clinics have been unable to accept rescued animals because she could not immediately meet the cost of treatment.

Yet, despite these difficulties, she continues to respond to the needs of animals that would otherwise have very few people to turn to.

Sahana’s story raises an important question about the meaning of humanity. Compassion should not be restricted to fellow human beings. Animals experience hunger, fear, pain and affection, and their lives deserve dignity and protection.

Her journey also highlights the limitations of relying on a handful of individuals to address a widespread social issue. Animal welfare requires collective responsibility, with communities, businesses, institutions and individuals playing an active role.

Not everyone can undertake a rescue operation or feed hundreds of animals every week. But meaningful change can begin with much smaller actions: placing a bowl of clean water outside one's home, feeding a hungry street dog, helping an injured animal receive treatment or supporting a local rescue organisation.

Ultimately, Sahana Ravishankar’s greatest contribution may not be measured by the number of meals prepared or animals rescued, but by the compassion she inspires in others.

True greatness is not measured only by what we achieve for ourselves, but also by what we do for those who cannot ask us for help.