New Anthoney Farms becomes first Sri Lankan poultry producer to secure University MoU for independent antibiotic - free verification

ft.lk · Feb 20, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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New Anthoney’s Farms Ltd., Sri Lanka’s only producer of 100pct antibiotic-free chicken, has entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Peradeniya to establish independent third-party verification of its zero-antibiotic production claims through rigourous laboratory testing. The MoU makes New Anthoney’s the first and only poultry producer in Sri Lanka to submit its entire production to ongoing scientific verification by an accredited university facility, transforming industry claims into documented, laboratory-proven facts. Under the MoU, the Food Safety and Quality Assurance Laboratory (FSQAL-UPDN) of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, the only ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory within the Sri Lankan university system, will conduct systematic testing of chicken meat samples at different stages of broiler production to verify the complete absence of antibiotics. The MoU was signed on behalf of the University of Peradeniya by Vice Chancellor Prof. Terrance Madhujith, and Acting Registrar K.A.B. Damunupola. Managing Director Emil Stanley, signed for New Anthoney’s Farms alongside CEO Neil Suraweera, and Dr. Lahiru Sandaruwan, while Dr. Madura Munasinghe and Prof. Ruchika Fernando represented FSQAL-UPDN. “We’ve been saying it for years: no antibiotics at any stage, from feed to farm to final product. Now we’re proving it with independent verification from Sri Lanka’s leading veterinary research institution,” said Suraweera. “This isn’t about marketing. This is about evidence. Consumers shouldn’t have to take anyone’s word for it. They deserve proof.” The decision to pursue independent verification comes as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emerges as one of the world’s most urgent public health threats. Global estimates warn that without immediate action, AMR could claim 10 million lives annually and trigger economic losses of $100 trillion by 2050. New Anthoney’s eliminated antibiotics entirely across its production in 2018, becoming the first and only Sri Lankan poultry producer to do so. Seven years later, it remains the only one. Producing chicken without antibiotics requires superior biosecurity, specialised nutrition programs developed by in-house veterinarians and nutritionists, alternative health management strategies including probiotics and essential oils, continuous monitoring, and acceptance of higher production costs. “What we’re doing is harder and more expensive. But the cost of doing nothing is measured in human lives,” Suraweera said. Established in 1986, New Anthoney’s holds FSSC 22000 certification, the first Sri Lankan poultry producer to achieve it, along with ISO 14064-1:2018 greenhouse gas verification from Control Union. The company maintains animal welfare certification from the National Chicken Council (USA) and was the first in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa to adopt the Sustainable U.S. Soy label. Its HarithaHari brand features 100% compostable packaging, the first in Sri Lankan poultry. The company’s commitment extends beyond production. In November last year, New Anthoney’s, together with the Ministry of Health, convened the Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance, bringing together over 100 stakeholders including policymakers, industry leaders, healthcare professionals, veterinary experts, and development partners. The company has also conducted AMR awareness sessions with university students and engaged in comprehensive employee education programs. The University of Peradeniya MoU establishes a verification framework unprecedented in the Sri Lankan poultry industry, one where every claim is backed by laboratory data, every production cycle is subject to independent scrutiny, and consumer trust is built on scientific evidence rather than marketing promises. For an industry long reliant on antibiotic use, New Anthoney’s continues to prove that there is another way: harder, more expensive, but ultimately the only responsible path forward.