News
Dengue on the rise
Dengue cases recorded so far in 2024 have exceeded 34,000 with 16 deaths, according to the Epidemiology Unit.
As of August 11, a total of 34,053 cases had been reported for the current year, with the highest number from the Colombo district – 8,201.
The Western Province has recorded 13,822 cases.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports an eight-fold increase in global dengue incidence between 2000 and 2019. In 2023, there were more than 5 million cases reported from 80 countries, with at least 23 countries reporting dengue outbreaks. That number has more than doubled in 2024 so far, with more than 10.6 million cases reported in North and South America alone. The true number is likely far greater, highlighting the urgency of addressing this public health crisis, WHO said.
“Dengue is a global health threat that’s currently being fuelled by three major drivers. First, a warmer, wetter year means there are more mosquitoes in more places, and these mosquitoes are hard to fight. Second, dengue is cyclical. Large outbreaks tend to occur every few years in areas with mosquitoes and living conditions that make protecting against bites harder. And third, people are travelling more, especially to places where dengue is common. These major drivers have contributed to an alarming rise of dengue cases globally.
“Although dengue is sometimes known as “break-bone fever” because of the severe body aches it can cause, most people who get infected with the dengue virus have no symptoms or only mild illness. Most people who do have dengue symptoms recover within a week.
However, dengue can also be severe and life-threatening, especially in children, older people, and people with underlying health conditions,” WHO said.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.
The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.
A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.
The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.
Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.
[President’s Media Division]
The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.
During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”
The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions
Grade 5 scholarship exam results released
Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan
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