Sri Lanka is facing a sharp rise in Chikungunya and Dengue cases, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of local authorities in managing mosquito-borne disease outbreaks.
Following the recent local government elections, political parties and independent groups that secured power are now under pressure to fulfill their responsibilities, particularly in eradicating mosquito breeding grounds. However, doubts remain about their commitment as the country grapples with this public health crisis.
As part of a special dengue eradication campaign from May 19 to 24 across 15 districts, health authorities inspected 128,824 premises, including homes, schools, religious sites, government offices, and construction sites. Of these, 31,145 were identified as potential mosquito breeding locations, and active larvae were found in 6,077. Legal action was taken against 1,470 violators.
Alarmingly, over half of the schools inspected had mosquito breeding sites, and one-fourth of all homes examined posed similar risks. Despite repeated warnings, many state-owned lands in the Colombo Municipal Council area remain neglected, serving as ideal breeding grounds due to stagnant water and piles of garbage.
Health officials say that while the public is regularly warned to maintain clean surroundings, the government has failed to manage its own properties. H. W. Somaratne, Planning Director at the Urban Development Authority, said cleanup teams are dispatched upon receiving complaints but noted a lack of recent reports.
Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, acknowledged a spike in Chikungunya and Dengue patient admissions, partly contributing to minor overcrowding in hospital wards.
Adding to the urgency, virologist Professor Neelika Malavige confirmed via social media that Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst Chikungunya outbreak in nearly two decades. Genome sequencing revealed the virus strain belongs to the Indian Ocean Lineage, common in South Asia.
This situation underscores the urgent need for stronger coordination, stricter enforcement, and accountability from both public institutions and local government bodies in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases.
