Sri Lanka's Cabinet has approved the establishment of a review committee to examine proposed updates to the 1897 Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance, aiming to strengthen the country's public health framework.
The Cabinet of Ministers has greenlit plans to review and modernize the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance No. 3 of 1897, the primary legislation governing communicable disease prevention and quarantine procedures in Sri Lanka. The decision follows a proposal from the Minister of Health and Mass Media to establish a dedicated committee that will examine proposed amendments to the century-old law.
The government has identified growing vulnerabilities in the current legal framework, citing increased cross-border disease transmission risks stemming from higher levels of international travel, trade, and the movement of people and goods. These factors have prompted officials to view a legislative update as necessary to address contemporary public health threats.
This review represents a second attempt at modernization. The Cabinet previously approved amendments to the Ordinance in 2016, but the resulting amendment Bill was never brought before Parliament. The newly formed committee is expected to incorporate lessons learned from pandemic experiences in recent years while recommending revisions that would enable Sri Lanka to better respond to both established and emerging infectious diseases.