24/01/2026
On 20 January 2026, the University of Peradeniya entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with New Anthoney’s Farms (Pvt) Ltd. to establish a collaborative framework for third-party verification of chicken meat raised without antibiotics in Sri Lanka.
The collaboration will be implemented through the Food Safety and Quality Assurance Laboratory (FSQAL UPDN) of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, which is the only ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory within the Sri Lankan university system. Under the MoU, FSQAL-UPDN will conduct testing of chicken meat samples produced by the Company, in accordance with an agreed and established protocol, to verify the absence of antibiotic residues at different stages of broiler production. This will provide independent third-party verification of the Company’s claims and established procedures for raising broiler birds without the use of antibiotics, representing a major milestone in the Sri Lankan poultry industry.
The development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) resulting from the extensive use of antibiotics for disease prevention and treatment in food-producing animals is a major global public health concern. Widely cited global estimates indicate that, if no urgent action is taken, antimicrobial resistance could account for up to 10 million deaths annually and result in economic losses of up to US$ 100 trillion by 2050, underscoring the importance of responsible antibiotic use and robust verification mechanisms in food animal production systems.
The agreement recognizes the public health, environmental, and trade concerns associated with antibiotic use in food-producing animals and aims to strengthen consumer confidence through evidence-based laboratory verification. The MoU was signed on behalf of the University of Peradeniya by Prof. Terrance Madhujith, Vice Chancellor, and Mr. K.A.B. Damunupola, Acting Registrar, and on behalf of New Anthoney’s Farms (Pvt) Ltd. by Mr. K.A. Emil Stanley, Managing Director.
The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Neil Suraweera, Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. Lahiru Sandaruwan from New Anthoney’s Farms (Pvt) Ltd., while Dr. Madura Munasinghe and Prof. Ruchika Fernando represented FSQAL-UPDN. The MoU will remain in effect for a period of five years.
University of Peradeniya
