May 21, Colombo (LNW): In response to the onset of the rainy season, the government has directed relevant officials to take immediate measures to mitigate the risk of dengue in Colombo.
Sagala Ratnayaka, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, has recommended the development of a special awareness programme aimed at educating schoolchildren and parents.
This initiative will be implemented by the Ministry of Education during ‘Dengue Prevention Week,’ scheduled from May 26 to June 1.
Ratnayaka also instructed authorities to focus on reducing the risk of dengue around public institutions, religious sites, and new construction areas.
He emphasised the necessity for relevant departments to enforce regulations against those failing to comply with these preventive measures.
These directives were issued during a progress review meeting held on Monday (20), at the Presidential Secretariat.
The meeting, chaired by State Minister for Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon, included Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Ratnayaka, and Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva.
The meeting aimed to review the implementation and progress of decisions taken in a previous session.
Discussions focused extensively on the measures previously implemented to control the spread of dengue and their effectiveness, particularly within the health medical officer divisions in the Western Province, where a rise in dengue cases has been noted.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, Secretary to the Ministry of Health, commended Ratnayaka for his leadership and guidance in the dengue control efforts and assured the Ministry of Health’s full support for the programme.
