Cabinet approves rabies eradication and dog registration bill

Colombo, July 1 (Daily Mirror) - The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the publication of the Rabies Eradication and Dog Registration Bill in the Government Gazette before it is presented to Parliament for approval.

The proposed legislation aims to consolidate the existing Rabies Ordinance (Chapter 476) and Dog Registration Ordinance (Chapter 477) into a single legal framework.

The new bill seeks to strengthen dog population control, make rabies vaccination for dogs mandatory, improve the legal registration of dogs, and clearly define the powers and responsibilities of the institutions responsible for implementing these measures. It also provides a mechanism to ensure the effective enforcement of the law.

The Cabinet said that the Attorney General has granted clearance for the draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman.

Accordingly, the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government to publish the draft bill in the Government Gazette and subsequently present it to Parliament for approval was endorsed by the Cabinet.