The United States has launched a joint public health initiative with Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health to tackle the country's dengue crisis, deploying military medical and disease control specialists to strengthen prevention and response capabilities.

Sri Lanka is receiving technical support from American military health experts as the country confronts an escalating dengue epidemic. The US Embassy has established a Public Health Pest Control and Vector-Borne Disease Response programme in collaboration with Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health and National Dengue Control Unit, according to reporting from The Island.

The initiative draws on resources from the US Department of War's Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid programme and brings together specialists from US Army Pacific and the 18th Theater Medical Command. These experts are working alongside Sri Lankan health officials to share knowledge in preventive medicine, disease surveillance, entomology, and vector management strategies. The programme is being conducted in Colombo and aims to support nationwide dengue response efforts.

According to US Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Jayne Howell, the partnership seeks to strengthen both the immediate response to the current outbreak and build long-term capabilities for Sri Lankan communities. The collaboration complements existing domestic measures including mosquito breeding site elimination campaigns and public awareness efforts, as well as predictive prevention methodologies.

The assistance reflects broader military and humanitarian cooperation between the United States and Sri Lanka, which includes joint exercises such as CARAT and Atlas Angel, as well as training partnerships involving the Montana National Guard. Officials describe the initiative as part of efforts to build regional resilience against shared challenges ranging from natural disasters to public health threats.