The COVID-19 pandemic caught global institutions and health systems off guard, despite repeated warnings that pandemics were inevitable, and notwithstanding significant efforts after prior health emergencies to recommend specific, crucially-needed preparations. Sri Lanka exemplifies the compounding crises, at a national level. Often exemplary initial technical public health responses unraveled as layers of crisis unfolded. The paper poses many questions for dialogue and reflection. What conclusions and lessons should public health and other policy makers draw from Sri Lanka’s experience as they address “preparedness” for future pandemics? What “bright spots”, and what dark experiences – at both the national and international levels – offer the most learning? With significant evidence of widely different local experiences, are there significant lessons from differences as well as common experience?

The other publications in this series: 

Sri Lanka Responds to COVID-19: Lessons in Preparing for the Future- Desk Review