According to the Ministry of Health, two cases involving children have been identified in the Colombo District, sparking fears of a potential resurgence.
Health officials are urging parents to ensure that children who have not received the full course of the measles vaccine complete their immunization schedule without delay.
Sri Lanka was declared measles-free by the World Health Organization in 2019. However, authorities note that isolated outbreaks have been reported in several areas since 2023.
A senior official from the Ministry’s Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana, stated that although no cases had been reported since January 2025, the recent detection of two infections is a cause for concern.
He stressed the importance of immediate preventive measures to prevent a wider outbreak. Laboratory testing of one of the cases, carried out in India, confirmed that the virus had been imported.
