Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni announced that steps are being taken to introduce a new Mental Health Act in Sri Lanka in the near future. He made these remarks while attending a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
The Deputy Minister said the country’s mental health services are currently at a crucial turning point and noted that the existing mental health policy is now a century old. He explained that the process of revising and modernising the legislation has already commenced.
Dr. Wijemuni further stated that the initial draft of the proposed Mental Health Act has been submitted to Parliament and the Cabinet. Following this stage, the draft will be presented to the public to gather views and feedback before finalising the new law.
