COLOMBO, Sept. 13 -- The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government has introduced a new Bill to eliminate rabies, regulate dog registration, and control the country's dog population.

The proposed legislation has been published in the government gazette and includes provisions for the annual vaccination and registration of dogs, the sterilization of stray dogs and the licensing of commercial dog breeding centres.

Under the proposed law, every dog within the administrative limits of a local authority must be vaccinated against rabies annually and registered with the relevant local government authority.

Owners or persons keeping dogs over six weeks of age will be required to ensure that their dogs are vac...