One health, one shield: Sri Lanka puts Rs. 5.4 billion (about $16 million) behind stopping the next pandemic early

In Colombo, Sri Lanka's Cabinet has given the green light to an Integrated One Health Pandemic Preparedness project worth Rs. 5,431 million (about $16 million) — a plan that treats human health, animal health and the environment as one connected system, because most new diseases jump from animals to people. The money, backed by a grant from the global Pandemic Fund signed in March 2025, will strengthen the country's ability to spot, prevent and respond to outbreaks and diseases that pass between animals and humans. Sri Lanka already vaccinates more than 95% of its children and has a strong record on controlling infectious disease; the project, to be completed by March 2028, is about closing the gaps the COVID years exposed — before the next crisis arrives.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being — Mechanism: institutional program