S. Mahendra Arnold

Dr. S. M. Arnold is a public health specialist. He is a senior public health official in Sri Lanka, who currently holds the position of Deputy Director General (Public Health Services) in the Ministry of Health. In his current capacity, Dr. Arnold oversees public health services across the country, contributing to policy making, programme implementation, and health emergency response. He has played significant roles in disease prevention, immunization, surveillance and health emergency management. One of his notable roles was as Director of the Quarantine Unit at the Ministry of Health, prior to his role as DDG. For example, during COVID 19 outbreak, Dr. Arnold was involved in supervising quarantine operations including the Points of Entry (ports and airports), coordinating screening procedures and preventive measures. He was the National Focal Point for IHR (2005). He is also a member of many national expert committees including National IHR Steering Committee, National Task Force on COVID 19, Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases, Technical Advisory Committees on Dengue, Malaria, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, HIV Prevention, NCD etc, reflecting his importance in the country’s public health leadership. He contributes in academic activities being a lecturer, trainer, supervisor for undergraduate, masters and doctorate degree programmes in Public Health in several universities. His current responsibilities place him among key decision makers in Sri Lanka’s public health infrastructure. He collaborates with international organizations, provincial health authorities, and various sectors within government to address communicable disease and health emergency challenges.