Department of Animal Production & Health

The Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH) is the state organization responsible for providing technical leadership to the livestock industry and its stakeholders in Sri Lanka. The DAPH, located in Peradeniya, in the Hill Capital of Kandy, Sri Lanka, is being functioned under the Ministry of  Agriculture, with the direct responsibility of the State Ministry of Livestock Farm Promotion and Dairy & Egg Related Industries.

The DAPH was established under the Ministry of Rural Industrial Development in September 1978. The then Government created the department, which came into power in 1977, realizing the importance of the livestock sector in socio-economic development in Sri Lanka.

The DAPH presently operates through its five (05) technical divisions such as Animal Health, Animal Breeding, Veterinary Research, Human Resource Development, Livestock Planning and Economics and two (02) support services divisions (Administration and Finance). In addition to the provision of technical expert service, the DAPH implements a range of statutes as well, pertaining to the livestock sector.

With the establishment of Provincial Councils in 1988, most of DAPH‘s field-level functions were devolved to nine (09) Provincial Departments of Animal Production and Health (PDAPH) headed by Provincial Directors. 337 divisional veterinary offices scattered throughout the country, which are functioned under PDAPH, handle delivery services. Divisional Veterinary Offices managed by Veterinarians are the main functional units of the DAPH. The DAPH provides technical expertise and backup services to provincial DAPH.