The Governor of the Northern Province, Hon. N. Vethanayahan stated that cooperation of all stakeholders is necessary to establish factories in the North to convert raw milk and meat into value-added products, improving livestock sector and animal health services of Northern Province.
This was emphasized during a special meeting held today (15.10 2026) at the Governor’s Secretariat between the Governor and Dr. S. Bandara, Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health.
During the discussion, the Provincial Director detailed several administrative and technical challenges including cadre vacancies in the post of veterinary surgeons and staff, transport difficulties caused by aging vehicles, and issues in the supply of medicines and artificial insemination materials. He stressed the necessity to fill these vacancies and upgrade relevant infrastructure.
It was noted that the livestock sector plays a vital role in increasing the Northern Province’s goal of contributing 10% to the national GDP. Highlighting that the province currently supplies 60% of the country’s total mutton production, the Director General suggested that production could be increased by introducing new breeds, controlling diseases, implementing proper farm management, and encouraging pasture farming.
Furthermore, the discussion explored on establishing district-level veterinary hospitals, providing vehicles for mobile veterinary services directly to farmers’ residences, setting up fodder production factories and taking integrated action to curb rising livestock theft and illegal meat production. Several higher officials including Chief Secretary, Secretary to the Governor and Secretary of Agriculture Ministry participated in the discussion.
