Formulation of Veterinary Policy Framework for Sri Lanka: Joint effort of JICA Sri Lanka office and Department of Animal Production and Health

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) collaborated with Department of Animal Production and Health to host Joint Seminar and workshop for the formulation of the Veterinary Policy Framework which will be laying platform to guide holistic approach to livestock sector development in Sri Lanka. High-level officials from Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Central and Provincial Department of Animal Production and Health, Private sector leaders, Development partners active in livestock sector and representative members of Sri Lanka Veterinary Association.

Mr. Tetsuya Yamada, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka office in his welcome speech stated that “It is crucial to have collaborations and partnerships within the actors of livestock sector to develop the sector and to create favorable environment for the producers and end-users to obtain maximum benefits. Further he expressed gratitude and wish that the representatives from diverse entities and organizations could materialize policies into action”.

“It was a great pleasure and honor to have this joint-seminar and workshop with the multi-dimensional team of representatives from various related actors and DAPH work with Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries to create the polity framework in favor of all actors in the livestock sector” said by Dr. Hemali Kothalawala, Director General of DAPH, Sri Lanka.

Diary Development Project in Northern Province (DDP NP) is one of the JICA Technical Cooperation Project currently implemented in Northern Province of Sri Lanka with the objectives of increasing quality, productivity and production of fresh milk by introducing diary techniques, inputs, feed management, extensions methodologies to small-scale dairy farmers and capacity building of key players in the dairy value chain including government counterparts, private sector and other related organizations. Presentations were made by Dr. S. Vaseeharan, Provincial Director, Department of Animal Production and Health - Northern Province and Team from DDP NP project followed by discussion to share clear understanding about the project achievement, outputs, and concepts with the participants.

The second half of the Seminar focused on formulation of Veterinary Policy framework in Sri Lanka. This activity was facilitated by Sri Lanka Veterinary Association as hub of the technical specialty in livestock sector. Dr. Samual Thevasagayam, Director – Agriculture and Aquaculture, Gates Foundation and Mrs. S.W.C. Jayamini, Additional Secretary to the Presidents Strategic Affairs division, Presidential Secretariat conducted strategic presentations on current global veterinary policy reforms and importance of public policy and its reforms for veterinary sector respectively followed by the presentation and group work facilitated by Dr. Hemali Kothalawala, Director General, Department of Animal Production and Health on current veterinary policy scenario and future directions in the veterinary domain in Sri Lanka.