Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya today (17) inaugurated PET EXPO 2026 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) as the Chief Guest, highlighting the importance of responsible pet ownership and the collective responsibility to protect the lives of stray animals.
The three-day exhibition, organised by the Association of Companion Animal Practitioners of Sri Lanka (ACAPSL), will run until July 19. The event aims to promote responsible pet ownership, animal welfare, veterinary care, and public awareness of companion animal health.
Addressing the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister said that while keeping pets is an important part of society's culture, protecting the welfare of animals living on the streets is also a shared responsibility. She urged the public to pay greater attention to the growing number of stray animals and discourage the practice of abandoning puppies and kittens at public places such as temples.
During her visit, the Prime Minister inspected the "Aloka" exhibition booth, dedicated to raising awareness about the protection and welfare of stray animals. She also officially launched the booth by handing over a rescued stray puppy to its new adopter, symbolising the importance of responsible adoption.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya welcomed the progress of Sri Lanka's veterinary services and noted that the recent approval of a Cabinet paper on animal welfare would enable the government to introduce stronger policies to improve the lives of animals across the country.
Recalling the widely publicised friendship between a Sri Lankan girl and a porcupine, the Prime Minister stressed that the bond between children and animals plays a vital role in nurturing compassion, kindness, and empathy. She said living with animals helps children develop these values through everyday experience.
PET EXPO 2026 features 19 expert lectures by local and international speakers, family-friendly activities, a dedicated kids' zone, pet-related exhibitions, and dog and cat adoption programmes offering health checks and vaccinations. Organisers describe the event as one of Sri Lanka's premier exhibitions for the companion animal and veterinary sectors.
The opening ceremony was attended by ACAPSL President Dr. Nuwan Wickramasinghe and members of the association, Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar, Colombo District MP Najith Indika, the Dean and academics of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the University of Peradeniya, and a large gathering of veterinary professionals and animal welfare advocates.
