Rs. 5.43 b pandemic preparedness project approved

Wednesday, 14 October 2026 00:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government will spend Rs. 5.43 billion on 35 activities to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response under a One Health approach, Cabinet Spokesperson and Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday. One Health is an approach that links human and animal health.

He was speaking at the media briefing on decisions taken at Monday’s (12) Cabinet meeting. Dr. Jayatissa, who presented the proposal, said the project will be funded by a Rs. 4.79 billion grant and Rs. 646 million from the Government.

Sri Lanka signed a grant agreement with the Pandemic Fund on 20 March, 2025. The Fund is a partnership of donor countries, co-investors, foundations and civil society organisations. Under the agreement, all grant-funded work must be completed by 31 March, 2028.

The COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies caused by diseases that pass from animals to humans exposed gaps in how Sri Lanka’s human and animal health sectors respond together. The 2026-2028 action plan includes upgrading the physical infrastructure of the Medical Research Institute’s National Public Health Reference Laboratory. It also includes setting up a Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, which is expected to be financed by the ADB.

Sri Lanka has made notable progress in communicable disease control and in maternal and child health. Its vaccination coverage exceeds 95%.