New Colombo Port Health Office opens to strengthen border health security

A new five-storey Port Health Office opened at the Port of Colombo to strengthen Sri Lanka’s ability to detect and prevent public health threats entering the country.

Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa inaugurated the facility on Tuesday (28) with Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka and Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akio Isomata.

The office will conduct health inspections, disease surveillance, quarantine operations and emergency public health responses in line with the International Health Regulations.

Its duties include inspecting international vessels, issuing free pratique permits and ship sanitation certificates, conducting vector-control programmes and coordinating responses to public health emergencies.

The International Organization for Migration implemented the project with financial assistance from the Japanese Government under a regional initiative to strengthen border controls against infectious diseases in South-West Asia.

The facility represents an investment of more than Rs. 168 million.

Jayatissa said the office would become increasingly important as Sri Lanka expanded maritime trade and strengthened its economic recovery.

Improving health security at ports would protect both public health and the country’s economic interests, he said.

The Minister said the new infrastructure would also help health and quarantine services at the Colombo, Hambantota, Galle, Kankesanthurai and Trincomalee ports operate more efficiently and meet international standards.

He thanked the Japanese Government, the Japanese people and the IOM for their financial and technical support.

Isomata said Japan had begun the project about three and a half years ago in close cooperation with the IOM.

Tourism and maritime trade were essential to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and sustainable growth, he said, adding that strong public health systems at airports and seaports were becoming increasingly important as international travel and global commerce expanded.

IOM Chief of Mission for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Kristin Parco described the opening as an important milestone in strengthening Sri Lanka’s border health security.

She said the facility would improve the implementation of international health regulations, strengthen the management of cross-border health risks and enhance the country’s preparedness for public health emergencies.