June 24, 2025

Sri Lanka recognised as a high-risk area for African swine fever

The government of Sri Lanka has informed its divisional secretariats that the country is experiencing an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).

Director General Hemali Abeyratne Kotalawala of the Sri Lankan Animal Production and Health Department issued an Extraordinary Gazette Notification of the ASF situation with a validity period of three months from June 13.

Director General Kotalawala further emphasised that this step was taken to control the situation, as ASF has spread in various divisional secretariats in Sri Lanka in the past few months and is likely to spread further.

According to the Gazette, the transportation, removal, or movement of high-risk pigs, pork, and pork products within or outside infected and high-risk areas is strictly prohibited. Slaughtering infected animals for meat and holding live animal markets involving high-risk animals are also banned unless a special permit is obtained from the respective Divisional Veterinarian. In October 2024, there was an increase in the ASF disease across the country, and a large number of pigs died from the disease.

The department states that further small cases of swine fever have been reported from various parts of the country.

-      Daily News (Sri Lanka)