Three-day mosquito control programme enters its final day

A special three-day mosquito control programme has been launched in eight districts, starting Thursday (27), in response to the rising number of dengue cases, with over 11,000 reported cases this year. The programme targets high-risk areas, including Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Matale, and Matara, where mosquito density is significantly high.

The National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) highlighted the ongoing risk of dengue transmission due to intermittent rains, stressing the need for immediate intervention. The programme will run until March 29 and will involve thorough inspections of homes, schools, workplaces, factories, places of worship, and public spaces to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.

The initiative, organised by the Ministry of Health and Media, in collaboration with the NDCU, also encourages the public to actively eliminate any potential mosquito breeding grounds on their properties. In addition to field inspections, the use of drone technology for mosquito control in hard-to-reach areas will be deployed with support from the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The campaign was officially launched Thursday, in Nugegoda, with Western Province Governor Haniff Yusuf and Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe attending the ceremony. Health professionals, the military, and the Sri Lanka Police are participating in the effort, which aims to curb the spread of dengue, especially with the upcoming monsoon season.