Recent catastrophic events, including the Ditwa Cyclone Storm, have exposed Sri Lanka’s livestock sector to an increased risk of disease outbreaks in the post-disaster period. Damage to infrastructure, displacement of livestock, heightened animal stress, and deteriorating sanitary conditions create an environment conducive to the rapid spread of economically significant livestock diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS), and Black Quarter (BQ).
These diseases can cause substantial livestock mortality, reduced productivity, and significant economic losses, directly affecting the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder dairy and livestock farmers. Furthermore, disease outbreaks can undermine national food security by disrupting the production and supply of milk and meat across the country.
The National Post-Disaster Emergency Animal Vaccination Programme (NPDEAVP) has been designed as a critical contingency intervention under the Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) of the Integrated Rurban Development and Climate Resilience Project (IRDCRP). The primary objective of the programme is to protect vulnerable livestock populations through timely vaccination and the establishment of herd immunity, thereby preventing disease outbreaks in disaster-affected areas and other high-risk environments.
Proactively vaccinating at-risk livestock the programme seeks to minimize secondary disaster-related losses, safeguard farmer assets and livelihoods, and support the rapid recovery and resilience of the national dairy and meat value chains. The launch of the vaccination programme in Thirappane on 7 February 2026 reflects the Government’s strong commitment to protecting the livestock sector and enhancing its resilience in the face of climate-induced disasters and emergencies.
These diseases can cause substantial livestock mortality, reduced productivity, and significant economic losses, directly affecting the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder dairy and livestock farmers. Furthermore, disease outbreaks can undermine national food security by disrupting the production and supply of milk and meat across the country.
The National Post-Disaster Emergency Animal Vaccination Programme (NPDEAVP) has been designed as a critical contingency intervention under the Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) of the Integrated Rurban Development and Climate Resilience Project (IRDCRP). The primary objective of the programme is to protect vulnerable livestock populations through timely vaccination and the establishment of herd immunity, thereby preventing disease outbreaks in disaster-affected areas and other high-risk environments.
Proactively vaccinating at-risk livestock the programme seeks to minimize secondary disaster-related losses, safeguard farmer assets and livelihoods, and support the rapid recovery and resilience of the national dairy and meat value chains. The launch of the vaccination programme in Thirappane on 7 February 2026 reflects the Government’s strong commitment to protecting the livestock sector and enhancing its resilience in the face of climate-induced disasters and emergencies.