Sri Lanka's Parliament today passed the Animal (Amendment) Bill and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (Amendment) Bill following the second reading debate held from 11:45 a.m. to 5:40 p.m..
The Animal (Amendment) Bill, which was presented for its first reading on July 21, 2026, by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, expands existing legal provisions that previously applied only to the transportation of cattle and buffaloes.
Under the new amendments, the regulations will also apply to the transportation of pigs, sheep, and goats, making it mandatory to obtain the required official permits before transporting these animals. The primary objective of the legislation is to strengthen measures to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases—infectious diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
Meanwhile, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (Amendment) Bill, which was also presented for its first reading on July 21, 2026, by the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, aims to improve the institutional efficiency of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board.
The legislation is intended to enhance the management of water supply services, streamline administrative operations, and expand the responsibilities of the Board to improve service delivery across the country.
