Sri Lanka Approves Rs 5.43 Bn Project to Establish Center for Disease Control 📈

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved a Rs 5.43 Bn (Rs 5,431 Mn) initiative under the _Integrated One Health Pandemic Preparedness and Response Strengthening Project_ to set up a dedicated Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and upgrade public health infrastructure. • Funding Structure: - Pandemic Fund Grant: Rs 4.785 Bn - GOSL Contribution: Rs 646 Mn - ADB: Expected to fund the CDC’s physical establishment • Key Highlights & Infrastructure Upgrades: - Sri Lanka CDC: Construction of a standalone 7,200 sq. meter facility on Ministry of Health land in Mulleriyawa. - Lab & Storage Expansion: Modernization of 5 pharmaceutical warehouses, upgrading the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) laboratory, and enhancing physical infrastructure at the Medical Research Institute (MRI) National Public Health Reference Laboratory. - Covers 35 identified activities under an action plan running from 2026 to March 31, 2028. • National Context: While Sri Lanka maintains a routine vaccination coverage exceeding 95%, COVID-19 and zoonotic threats highlighted gaps across human and animal health response mechanisms. The standalone facility aims to strengthen overall national health security, disease surveillance, and systemic pandemic resilience.