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Dengue caused 58 deaths last year

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Dr. Sudath Samaraweera

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The number of dengue cases detected in the country increases twice a year based on the monsoon season, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, Director of the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU), says.

Dr. Samaraweera said that the number of reported patients increased in the middle of the year and at the year end.

“There were very few reported cases in September, but the numbers spiked in October, November and December. There were over 11,000 cases in December alone.”

Dr. Samaraweera added that health officials feared that a similar number of cases would be reported in January 2024. This is why a dengue eradication week was declared from 07 January.

“There were over 88,000 cases in 2023, but only 58 deaths were reported. This was the lowest death rate since 2001, i.e., how many have died out of 100 cases.”

He went on to say that at least half the dengue cases each year are reported from the western province.

 “Most cases are reported from Colombo, and Gampaha usually comes in second. However, the current monsoon affects the North and East more and in December, the second-highest dengue cases were reported from the Jaffna District. There were a lot of cases in the Kandy district as well.”

Dr. Samaraweera pointed out that a lot of cases are reported from the Kandy Municipal Council area.In December 2023, on average, there were about 1,000 dengue patients admitted to hospitals each day, he said.

“We have dealt with more patients in hospitals in the past. So we have seen these, and we have learnt. The health system is ready to absorb a large number of patients,” he assured.

Dr. Samaraweera said that they have actively taken steps to control dengue. In the coming months, it will also be dry. Therefore, there will be a rapid decrease in cases within the next two to four weeks.

Entomologist of the NDCU, Sakuntala Janaki, said that they have identified 71 MOH areas with a high risk of dengue. These are areas with a high number of dengue patients and a high density of dengue mosquitoes, she said, assing that containers that are discarded haphazardly account for about 20 percent of dengue breeding sites.

“With the North Eastern monsoon, Jaffna district receives a lot of rain. We did several mosquito eradication programmes in the North in December, too. We checked various premises and found that there were mosquito breeding sites on almost all public premises. This is the same in the Western province. We found mosquito breeding sites in about 25 percent of the houses in Jaffna. This is different in the Western province. We usually find dengue breeding sites in only between 10 and 15 percent of the houses in the Western province.”

Janaki said the dengue mosquito passes through four stages in its life, i.e., egg, larva, pupa and adult. The first three stages are in water, and fumigation targets the adult dengue-infected mosquito who lives out of water, she said.

 “This is why our key strategy is to destroy the dengue breeding sites,” she said.



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Landslide RED warnings continue to be in force for the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya

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The RED Landslide Early Warnings issued  by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organization [NBRO]  to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya have been extended until 1600hrs today [06th December 2025]. Landslide Early warnings have also been issued to the districts of  Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Monaragala and Ratnapura,

Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Gangawata Korale, Deltota, Doluwa, Thumpane, Medadumbara, Minipe, Pathahewaheta, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Akurana, Udunuwara, Panvila, Pathadumbara, Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Poojapitiya, Harispattuwa and Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Mawanella, Rambukkana, Dehiowita, Warakapola,  Deraniyagala, Bulathkohupitiya,  Ruwanwella, Yatiyanthota and Aranayaka in the Kegalle district, Narammala, Mawathagama, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Rideegama and Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Wilgamuwa, Ukuwela, Pallepola, Matale, Laggala Pallegama, Yatawatta, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district, and Nildandahinna,  Walapane,  Hanguranketha and  Mathurata in the Nuwara Eliya district.

LEVEL II AMBER warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of  Uva Paranagama, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Passara and Haldummulla in the Badulla district, Nuwara Eliya, Ambagamuwa Korale, Thalawakele, Norwood, Kothmale West and Kothmale East in the Nuwara Eliya district, and Kahawaththa, Godakawela and Kolonna in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka and Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Attanagalla and Divulapitiya in the Gampaha district, Bulathsinhala, Ingiriya and Horana in the Kalutara  district, Athuraliya and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Bibile and Medagama in the Monaragala district, and Kiriella, Nivithigala, Eheliyagoda, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Pelmadulla, Elapatha, Balangoda, Openayake, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Ratnapura and Kaltota in the Ratnapura district.

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IMF pledges additional aid to Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah destruction

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Julie Kozack, Director, IMF Communications Department

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Thursday, signalled strong solidarity with Sri Lanka in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, confirming that it is actively exploring options to provide further support for recovery and resilience beyond the existing Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

Julie Kozack, Director of the IMF’s Communications Department, opened her remarks with heartfelt condolences:

“Our deepest sympathies go out to the people of Sri Lanka for the effects of the devastating cyclone. Our hearts mourn the loss of life that has taken place,” she said, extending condolences to other Asian nations also grappling with severe flooding, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

On Sri Lanka, Kozack emphasised that the IMF is closely engaging with authorities, development partners, and counterparts to assess the humanitarian, social, and economic toll of the disaster.

“Large parts of Sri Lanka have been affected by floods, and we expect economic activity to be adversely impacted, in addition to the significant human toll,” she noted.

The IMF is awaiting the completion of a rapid post-disaster damage assessment, led by Sri Lankan authorities, in collaboration with international partners, to better gauge the economic impact.

“We are continuing to support Sri Lanka’s recovery, reform, and resilience under the EFF arrangement. Our staff is looking into options to further support Sri Lanka in the recovery process,” Kozack confirmed.

She reiterated that the Board meeting, scheduled for 15 December, remains on track, following the staff-level agreement on the fifth review reached in October—prior to the cyclone.

“We will provide additional details as the assessment of economic needs and damages moves forward, and as we have more information to inform our thinking around the options,” she added.

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Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir takes oath as SJB National List MP

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Naina Thambi Marikkar Mohamed Thahir was sworn in as a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) National List Member of Parliament before Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday (05).

His appointment follows the resignation of SJB Parliamentarian Muhammathu Ismail Muththu Mohamed, who stepped down from his position on 28 November.

The SJB subsequently nominated Thahir to fill the resulting vacancy.

Accordingly, the Election Commission issued a Gazette Extraordinary declaring Naina Thambi Marikkar Mohamed Thahir a Member of Parliament, in terms of Section 64(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, as amended by Section 6 of the Elections (Special Provisions) Act, No. 35 of 1988.

With the issuance of the gazette, and the subsequent swearing-in, Thahir has officially assumed duties as a National List MP, representing the SJB.

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