The government has decided to implement 35 activities under a Rs. 5.43 billion project aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s preparedness and response to pandemics and other public health emergencies.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to implement the activities under the Integrated One Health Pandemic Preparedness and Response Strengthening Project.
According to the Cabinet decision, the project will be implemented with a total allocation of Rs. 5,431 million, comprising a Rs. 4,785 million grant under the Pandemic Preparedness and Response Strengthening Project and Rs. 646 million from the Government of Sri Lanka.
A key component of the programme is upgrading the physical infrastructure of the National Public Health Investigation Laboratory at the Medical Research Institute (MRI).
The broader action plan for 2026–2028 also includes the proposed establishment of the Sri Lanka Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, which is expected to be financed through the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The initiative aims to address gaps identified in Sri Lanka’s national response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health emergencies involving diseases transmitted from animals to humans.
According to the government, these gaps have highlighted the need to strengthen coordination and response capabilities across both human and animal health sectors.
Sri Lanka signed an agreement on March 20, 2025, to obtain grant assistance from the Pandemic Fund, a collaborative partnership involving donor countries, co-investors, foundations and civil society organisations.
Under the agreement, all activities supported by the grant must be completed by March 31, 2028.
The government noted that Sri Lanka has made significant progress in controlling communicable diseases and improving maternal and child healthcare, while maintaining vaccination coverage exceeding 95%.
The new project is intended to build on these achievements by strengthening the country’s capacity to prepare for and respond to future pandemic threats. (Newswire)
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