September 24, Colombo (LNW): A new Bill aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s efforts to eliminate rabies and improve the management of the country’s dog population has been presented to Parliament.
The proposed legislation, titled the Elimination of Rabies and Registration of Dogs Bill, was tabled by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government.
The Bill introduces a new legal framework centred on preventing the spread of rabies through wider vaccination programmes, measures to manage the dog population and greater oversight of commercial dog breeding.
A key feature of the proposed law is the introduction of a nationwide system for registering dogs. The registration process is intended to provide authorities with better information on the country’s dog population and support more effective planning of vaccination and disease-control programmes.
The legislation also proposes the creation of a National Rabies Elimination Advisory Committee, together with corresponding regional committees. These bodies would be responsible for providing guidance and supporting the implementation and monitoring of measures aimed at controlling rabies.
The proposed framework is intended to bring together vaccination, animal population management and regulatory measures under a more coordinated system, while also giving authorities greater oversight of activities involving dogs.
If approved by Parliament, the new legislation would replace the existing legal provisions governing rabies and dog registration. It proposes to repeal the Rabies Ordinance (Chapter 476) and the Dog Registration Ordinance (Chapter 477).
The introduction of the Bill marks a proposed overhaul of the country’s existing approach to rabies control and dog registration, with the Government seeking to establish a more comprehensive system for managing the public health risks associated with the disease.
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