Leading Experts Convened to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance in View of AMR Awareness Week 2025

New Anthoney's Farms Hosted Critical Dialogue on Building Collective Response to AMR Threat

In view of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025, New Anthoney's Farms, one of Sri Lanka's leading sustainable poultry producers, together with the Ministry of Health, hosted a landmark forum titled "Building a Collective Response: Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future" on Monday, November 24 at The View, Waters Edge.

The forum was graced by Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Health, as Chief Guest and Dr. Momoe Takeuchi, Officer in Charge of WHO Sri Lanka, as Guest of Honor. This forum brought together over 100 key stakeholders including industry leaders, policymakers, healthcare professionals, development partners, regulatory authorities, and media to drive urgent, coordinated action against AMR threat.

The centerpiece of the forum was a comprehensive two-hour panel discussion featuring four distinguished experts addressing critical aspects of AMR. The panel included Dr Palika S. Fernando, Additional Secretary (Livestock Development) at the Ministry of Agriculture; Dr. Renuka Jayatissa, President, SAARC Food Association Sri Lanka and Vice Chancellor, IIHS; Dr. Kushlani Jayatillake, Consultant Microbiologist, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital; and Dr. Susil Silva, Regional Head of Animal Utilization, U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC).

The session was moderated by Dr. Vindya Perera, President of the Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology and head of the Department of Microbiology at the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. A moderated Q&A session allowed audience members to engage directly with all panelists, fostering collaborative solutions to this pressing challenge.

New Anthoney's Farms took the pioneering step of organizing this forum as the first industry-led, advocacy-scale initiative of its kind in the sector. Renowned for its pioneering 100pct antibiotic-free chicken production and as a keen advocate in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the company recognized the urgent need to bring together all stakeholders to address this critical threat. 

AMR represents one of the most critical threats facing global health, food security, and economic stability today. Every year, resistant infections claim countless lives, compromise routine medical procedures, and undermine the very foundation of modern medicine. 

Dr. Kushlani Jayatillake explored "Resisting Resistance: Protecting Human Health," examining how microorganisms develop resistance, the impact on Sri Lankan healthcare systems, and insights from the national AMR surveillance programme. Her discussion addressed the effectiveness of national AMR policies, diagnostic capacity challenges, and the urgent improvements needed to detect and monitor resistance across healthcare settings.

Dr. Susil Silva focused on "Optimizing Animal Nutrition to Combat AMR," discussing challenges in animal nutrition and food production in both global and Sri Lankan contexts. Key topics included maintaining productivity while minimizing antimicrobial use, the critical role of raw material selection in animal feed, international best practices, and making sustainable, high-quality feed options accessible to small-scale farmers.

Dr. Renuka Jayatissa addressed "Nutrition & Public Health Strategies to Combat AMR," examining how AMR spreads through the food chain from farm to plate. Her presentation highlighted the role of good nutrition, safe food handling, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) practices in controlling AMR, along with successful global and local examples of programmes that have reduced infection rates and antibiotic misuse.

Dr. Palika S. Fernando discussed "Research, Policy & Regulations to Combat AMR," focusing on strengthening Sri Lanka's One Health approach in alignment with the Quadripartite Global Action Plan. Topics included governance structures for translating global action plans into coordinated national initiatives, improving surveillance and data sharing systems, enhancing intersectoral collaboration, and identifying Sri Lanka's key priorities for the next phase of implementation.

The rise of antimicrobial resistance threatens to return us to a pre-antibiotic era where common infections could become deadly. Through expert dialogue and evidence-based solutions, this forum united diverse sectors to build resilience, strengthen surveillance systems, and implement transformative practices that protect both human and animal health. 

This groundbreaking forum demonstrated that the private sector can play a leadership role in driving public health solutions, setting a new standard for corporate responsibility in the food production industry. By convening this diverse group of experts and decision-makers, New Anthoney's Farms has shown that sustainable alternatives are not only possible but essential for safeguarding public health, and that the industry must take an active role in building a collective response that ensures antibiotics remain effective for future generations.