Animal Welfare Coalition complains on misuse of rabies control funds

9 July 2025 12:50 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 3 Bookmark

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By Poojathmi Rivithma

Colombo, July 9 (Daily Mirror) - The Animal Welfare Coalition Sri Lanka has lodged a formal complaint with the Bribery Commission against senior Health Ministry officials, alleging the misuse of Rs. 200 million allocated for the National Rabies Control Programme in the 2024 and 2025 national budgets.

Dr. Chamith Nanayakkara stressed the urgent need for the Health Ministry to start dog sterilization programmes across the country to help stop the spread of rabies.

He warned that the failure to carry out sterilizations will result in an increased stray dog population, posing a serious public health risk.

The complaint highlights the complete suspension of the national dog sterilization programme in 2025, as well as the failure to utilise 50% of the allocated funds in 2024.

The coalition claims that these actions could amount to offences under Section 111 of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 09 of 2023.

Dr. Nanayakkara further warned that the inaction could lead to a rise in rabies cases among dogs, significantly increasing the risk of transmission to humans and potentially causing fatalities.

He urged that the rising dog population and the spread of rabies are linked, and warned that if this issue is not addressed, the government might resort to culling dogs as a solution.

Comments - 3

Dilkie Wednesday, 09 July 2025 02:20 PM

Disgraceful. AKD must ensure funds are spent

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M Fernando Thursday, 10 July 2025 02:46 AM

So this is why rabies is not controlled and the sterilisation program is stopped in its tracks. Corruption as usual. Despite big 'pansil' and 'atasil' talk, we are the most hypocritical people on earth..!

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“The Lansi Burgher Gent” Thursday, 10 July 2025 01:37 PM

Our innocent dogs need to be cared for, protected and given all the necessary medication to keep them safe. Pilfering of funds from an already allocated budget fund, is unacceptable. Corruption has, is and always will be rampant in this country no matter who comes and goes. To not provide the funds needed for this cause will only cause these sadistic scumbags to resort to dog culling which is never going to be allowed to happen. We are a Buddhist country and mostly a dog loving society, except for the a few daisies you get here who would jump at the idea of slaughtering dogs. These dogs are taken in as puppies and then dumped on the streets which is just heartless and inhumane. It is never the dog’s fault. We are the problem and a reduction in the country’s human population would do wonders at a time like this. Too many idiots breeding away like rabbits. Save our dogs/puppies.

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