News

Peradeniya Veterinary Faculty launches mobile app to give more teeth to mass scale dog vaccination against rabies

Published

1 year ago

2024/09/8

Thilina Walpola

Lankan dog population is complex and dynamic

BY RANDIMA ATTYGALLE

In a bid to give more muscle to fighting rabies and strengthening sterilization programmes, the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences of the University of Peradeniya has launched an innovative user-friendly mobile application. The app titled ‘Daththa’ is developed by a team of local IT and tech experts, to make reliable estimates of dog and cat counts in the country and thereby enable a stronger vaccination programme across the island to control rabies. The mobile app has already been piloted in Udaperadeniya village.

Although rabies-induced human deaths have dropped notably in the country, annually around 30 deaths are still reported. “WHO is of the view that Sri Lanka being a small island can effectively eradicate rabies, provided we give more teeth to vaccinating dogs and cats. The absence of a reliable estimate of dog and cat counts locally, is one of the drawbacks and with the launch of Daththa, there is a lot of hope that we can reach the target,” Professor Ashoka Dangolla from University of Peradeniya told the Sunday Island.

Vaccinating dogs, including puppies, through mass dog vaccination programmes is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people because it stops the transmission at its source, points out the WHO. Rabies is a serious public health problem in over 150 countries, mainly in Asia and Africa. Dog bites and scratches cause 99% of the human rabies cases, and can be prevented through dog vaccination and bite prevention, notes WHO further.

Daththa mobile app

Vaccinating at least 70% of the dog population can disturb the rabies-transmission cycle, points out Prof. Dangolla. Traditionally, over the years, dog estimates here at home have been done in proportion to the human population in each district. However, this is not a satisfactory method points out the senior Veterinarian who cites the ‘pet preferences’ of certain communities and other cultural dynamics as varying factors which do not generate an accurate estimate. In addition to the absence of an accurate estimate of dogs, the use of six different brands of rabies vaccination in the country have also impacted the mass scale vaccination across the island, he says.

Unlike in the west where dog population would fall under two broad umbrellas of ‘owned’ and ‘stray’, Sri Lankan dog population’s dynamics are complex and interesting. They are categorized as those who are totally owned by people, partially, communally, or collectively owned or completely unowned or stray dogs. The newly developed app which is trialed right now is to be introduced to the health and veterinary administration through PHIs and government veterinary surgeons, covering all districts to estimate the multiple categories of our dog population. Rabies mass vaccination is currently performed under the authority of the Health Ministry by PHIs of respective areas.

The app Daththa is powered by Dr. Paw – a pet channelling platform which is the brainchild of Ifthikar Wahid. Unlike manual surveying which would require much effort from collecting data to analyzing it, the newly launched app Daththa is a user-friendly digital intervention which collates data, connecting all stakeholders in the veterinary administration, points out its architect Wahid. The app has two components: Survey of household and partially or community owned dogs and cats (surveyed by the PHI, door-to-door survey) and survey and count of dogs and cats in the street, using the globally accepted sight-resight method to confirm completely stray (un-owned) dogs and cats, with associated geotagging for data visualization. “For user convenience and accuracy, the app is made very simple by just allowing ticking of boxes as opposed to entering a lot of text. This method also assures optimal accuracy in the survey,” explains Wahid.

The trial count in Udaperadeniya started from a designated point, travelled on a predetermined route while using the mobile software and interviewing house owners. After surveying 58 houses, the route and GPS points were forwarded to a second person who counted dogs and cats encountered outside houses while traveling along the same route. The second person, Rider, conducted counts in morning and evening on the same day, and on the subsequent Sunday. Rider surveying was done on the next day to observe the variability of results on the free roaming dog sightings. An unowned (stray) dog, for the survey purpose is defined as any dog observed twice, once in the morning and once in the evening on the same day (sight-re sight method). Dogs seen either in the morning or evening, are considered to have some ownership.

The software which is a CSR project of Dr. Paw is offered to relevant authorities completely free of charge. The software which is to be tested in four different administrative districts shortly is subsequently to be expanded countrywide.

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News

House erupts over suspension of Deputy Secretary General

Published

7 hours ago

2026/02/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday raised concerns over the recent suspension of Parliament’s Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff, G.K.A. Chaminda Kumara Kularatne, alleging that the process appeared to be mala fide. Addressing Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne in Parliament, Premadasa said that the existence of a personal disagreement between the Speaker and the suspended official had created a potential conflict of interest.

Premadasa said disciplinary action against senior parliamentary officials had to be taken in keeping with established parliamentary precedents. He also questioned the legality and propriety of a lower-ranking official leading an inquiry against a senior officer.

“For the first time, we are witnessing a rift between the Speaker and the staff of the Secretary-General. All parties must step back, act democratically and ensure that the fundamental rights of Chaminda Kularatne are safeguarded,” he added.

ITAK Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said Kularatne had not been given an opportunity to respond to the allegations made against him.

“This is a disgraceful situation. A complaint has been lodged against you with the Bribery Commission. Parliament is the supreme institution of democracy in this country, and the precedent being created here is dangerous,” Rasamanickam said, addressing the Speaker.

SJB Kandy District MP Chamindranee Kiriella said the Speaker was duty-bound to inform the House before disciplinary action was taken against a parliamentary official. SJB MP Ajith P. Perera said it was unethical for the Speaker to assume a leadership role in the inquiry, and called for the matter to be entrusted to an independent authority.

Responding on behalf of the Government, Chief Government Whip and Health and Mass Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said the chief investigating officer, S.K. Liyanage, an Additional Secretary, had been appointed by the Staff Advisory Committee on 25 August, 2025. He said Liyanage had been selected from a pool of qualified officers at the Ministry of Public Administration and had prior experience in conducting investigations.

Leader of the House and Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said the Staff Advisory Committee had agreed on the respective powers of parliamentary officials, noting that the Secretary General would hold powers equivalent to those of Ministry Secretary, while the Deputy Secretary General would hold powers equivalent to those of an Additional Secretary.

“There is no irregularity in the conduct of the investigation or in the appointment of the investigating officers,” Rathnayake said.

On 24 January, 2026, Parliament announced the immediate suspension of Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff Chaminda Kularatne with effect from 23 January, citing concerns relating to his appointment. Kularatne had assumed duties on 15 September, 2023.

On Monday, Kularatne filed a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption against Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, alleging corruption. His legal counsel, Attorney-at-Law Mithun Dias, said the complaint had been filed against the Speaker in his personal capacity and not against the government.

However, Dr Jayatissa told the House that the investigation into Kularatne was based on concerns relating to his appointment, qualifications and the process by which he had been confirmed in that post and was not linked to any personal dispute with the Speaker.

By Saman Indrajith

News

78th Independence Day celebrations at Bogambara Stadium

Published

7 hours ago

2026/02/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

The 78th Independence Day celebrations in the Central Province are scheduled to be held today from 8:00 AM at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.

The celebrations are jointly organised by the Central Provincial Council and the Kandy District Secretariat. The Governor of the Central Province, Prof. S.B.S. Abeykoon, is expected to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.

The event will also see the participation of Kandy District Members of Parliament, the Chief Secretary of the Central Province, Mr. Ajith Premathilake, as well as representatives from the Tri-Forces, Police, school students, and various voluntary organisations.

The ceremony will feature a formal parade and cultural performances by school children.

By S.K. Samaranayake

News

Colombo-Kandy railway line to be fully restored this year – Minister Bimal

Published

7 hours ago

2026/02/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake, has announced that the reconstruction of the Colombo-Kandy railway line, which was severely damaged by landslides in the Balana and Kadugannawa areas, will be completed within this year to restore normal train services.

The Minister made this statement during the Kandy District Development Committee meeting held at the District Secretariat. He noted that work will commence following the observations and technical reports provided by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) regarding the stability of the landslide-affected areas.

Financial Management and Development

Minister Rathnayake emphasised that the government possesses the necessary funds for development projects.

“Our government has the funds. However, all officials must ensure these funds are managed efficiently so that they are fully utilised for development, without being returned to the Treasury at the end of the year,” he stressed.

Improvements in Public Transport

Highlighting the progress in the transport sector, the Minister shared several key updates

• Recruitment: 700 new employees have been recruited to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and are currently undergoing training.

• School Transport: Steps are being taken to strengthen the ‘Sisu Sariya’ school bus service within the Kandy District.

• Infrastructure: The reconstruction of the Peradeniya Black Bridge (Kalu Paalama), which was damaged during the ‘Ditwah’ disaster, is nearing completion.

Welfare facilities for Private Transport Workers

The Minister also revealed plans to support the welfare of private bus drivers and conductors.

“We must look after the workers in the private transport sector as well. We are planning to establish a welfare fund for them and are taking steps to include them in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) system,” he added.

Concluding his remarks, the Minister urged state officials to perform their duties responsibly and ensure that the inefficiencies seen under previous administrations do not recur.

By S.K. Samaranayake