Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health, Dr. Sanjika Perera, has called on the public to take responsibility for stray dogs, warning that feeding them without care worsens the rabies threat.

“Those who love dogs should not feed street dogs. If they do so, they must also take responsibility for those dogs,” Dr. Perera said, stressing that rabies must be eradicated at the animal level to protect communities.

He announced that a national plan is underway to eliminate rabies from Sri Lanka by 2030, with the Department working alongside international organizations. The initiative was highlighted at a four‑day workshop held in Katunayake.

Rabies control in Sri Lanka dates back to 1973, when the programme was launched amid 360 deaths annually. Over the decades, fatalities have dropped to 14 per year, largely due to hospital vaccination programmes.

“Even 14 deaths is a significant number because dog bites occur so frequently,” Dr. Perera said. “Vaccination provided at hospitals saves lives, which is a positive outcome. However, it also places a heavy financial burden on the government. The long-term solution is to eliminate rabies in the dog population. Doing so would also reduce that burden on the government.”

The Director General emphasized that controlling rabies through dogs is the only way to fully end the disease and relieve the state of its heavy cost burden. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to publish in the Government Gazette a draft bill combining the Rabies Ordinance (Authority No. 476) and the Dog Registration Ordinance (Authority No. 477), aimed at eradicating rabies and strengthening dog registration laws.

The new legislation seeks to control the dog population, make rabies vaccination for dogs mandatory, reinforce the legal framework for registration, clarify the powers and responsibilities of institutions tasked with these duties, and establish mechanisms for effective implementation.

Approval for drafting the bill was first granted at the Cabinet meeting held on September 22, 2025. The Legal Draftsman has since prepared the draft, which has received clearance from the Attorney General.

The Cabinet endorsed the proposal presented by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government to publish the draft bill in the Gazette and thereafter present it to Parliament for approval. (Newswire)

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The Government is spending a total of Rs. 800 million annually to address the issue of stray dogs, including vaccination and sterilisation programmes, Deputy Health Minister, Hansaka Wijemuni, said in Parliament today. 

Providing a cost breakdown, the Deputy Minister said Sri Lanka is spending Rs. 280 million to provide medicines for persons attacked by rabies-infected stray dogs.

He said that Rs. 180 million was spent on vaccinating animals, adding that the programme needs to be systematised.

Noting that Rs. 200 million was being spent to sterilise animals, Hansaka Wijemuni said, however, the ministry needs to review the outcome, as it does not seem to have reduced the animal population.  

The Deputy Minister of Health further said Sri Lanka reports between  20-30 deaths due to rabies per year.

“20 years ago, Sri Lanka reported nearly 300 rabies-related deaths. In countries such as Thailand and Latin America, it has been reduced to 1 to 2 deaths or zero cases per year. These countries have achieved this through animal control and a vaccination programme,” he explained. 

The Deputy Minister added that the priority of the Health Ministry regarding stray dogs is to treat rabies. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka has reported a total of eleven (11) deaths due to Rabies so far this year, the Health Ministry’s Epidemiology Unit said.

Senior Registrar of the Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana said most deaths had been caused due to the public’s lack of awareness of Rabies, a viral disease that can be spread through the bites and scratches of an infected animal.

Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana said, however, the authorities have been able to reduce the number of deaths due to Rabies by half compared to last year.

“11 deaths have been reported so far this year due to the necessary medical treatment not being followed properly. 300 state hospitals are equipped with Rabies vaccines. In case of a more severe bite, the related vaccine is also given in about 100 hospitals,” he said.

Stating that these vaccines are provided free of charge, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana advised the public to seek immediate medical attention if bitten by a rabies-infected animal.

Providing further details on the infection, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana said Rabies is usually transmitted by the bite of a rabies-infected animal or if an animal with rabies licks an existing wound.

He further said it can also be absorbed through the mucous membranes around the eyes, nose, mouth and genitals without injury.

Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana added that Rabies infection symptoms appear between three weeks and three months, and hospitals are providing vaccines to infected persons irrespective of the period the symptoms occurred. (Newswire)

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