The Veterinary Unit of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) lamented  the failure on the part of City dwellers to vaccinate the animals they bring from outstation areas of the country has become the prime cause of rabies within the City limits. 

Responding to questions when contacted by The Daily Morning, Chief Veterinary Surgeon at the CMC, Dr. Mohammad Ijaz said that rabies was well controlled within the City. Last year (2025), there had been one case of rabies where a cat in the vicinity of Temple Trees had tested positive by the Medical Research Institute; however, in 2024, there had been “zero rabies cases” from within the CMC area. 

However, there were instances when animals brought into the Colombo City area from outside the Western Province had contracted rabies. Explaining further, Dr. Ijaz said that on one occasion, a puppy that was brought from a Galgamuwa temple and a cat that was brought from Ratnapura had contracted the rabies virus. The animals were already infected with the virus when they were brought to the City.  He lamented that people made emotional decisions and felt sympathy towards the animals that prompted them to bring these animals, but unfortunately, they failed to either make sure they are vaccinated and had kept them within their premises, resulting in such incidents. He noted the Public Veterinary Department of the CMC has vaccinated 8,000 to 9,000 animals against rabies.