Needs, difficulties, and possible approaches to providing quality clinical veterinary education with the aim of improving standards of companion animal medicine in sri lanka.

Companion animal medicine has now gained prominence in Sri Lanka as a result of an increased public interest in pets; however, veterinary education has not kept pace with current developments. The main constraints faced by the veterinary education system are those common to all university education in Sri Lanka. Changes in the current system, though important, depend heavily on political will and vision, which are not forthcoming in the near future. It is therefore both necessary and important that the private sector provide the impetus to improve standards of veterinary medicine in Sri Lanka. The immediate focus should be on improving the skills of practitioners through clinically based continuing education programs. Later, more specialized and intensive programs may be initiated. Interaction and sharing of knowledge with more developed countries are critical in leading the way to improved standards of companion animal medicine in Sri Lanka.