President declares war on dengue mosquitoes

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed all Provincial Chief Secretaries to take all precautionary measures to prevent the spread of dengue, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake said.

Over 30,000 dengue-positive cases have been reported so far this year with 50 percent from the Western province. Gampaha district and Colombo suburbs are currently recording a high number of dengue patients. All other districts are showing a significant increase compared to last year.

The President’s Secretary has also instructed armed forces and police to extend their fullest cooperation for provincial-level dengue control programs.

Heads of government institutions, schools, and other institutions will be informed to check and clean places where mosquitoes breed, inspect all houses and shop premises in urban and rural areas, have loudspeaker announcements, and visit areas where dengue cases have been detected.

He said Chief Secretaries have stated that they are taking the necessary steps from fumigating to conducting spot checks for mosquito larvae and taking legal action against those who fail to keep the premises of houses and institutions clean.