Mosquitoes reign supreme in Kataragama

M. Nelson Piyaratne Kataragama group corr.

The residents and pilgrims are inconvenienced due to the acute mosquito menace in Kataragama.

The residents of suburban villages of Kataragama town Nagaha Veediya, Gothamigama, Gaminipura, Sellakatragama, Vallimathagama, Peragirigama and Kandasurindugama complain that they can't have a wink of sleep during the night although they use mosquito nets and coils. And it is reported some pilgrims who arrive at Kataragama spend sleepless nights at pilgrims rests to protect their sleeping children's from mosq-uitoes.

Inquired by the media, M.O.H. Kataragama Dr. A. Lelwala said they couldn't spray anti-mosquito chemicals regularly as they are not sent to them at proper time by the office of the Regional Director of Health, Moneragala.

He said at least once in three months this chemical should be sprayed. But these chemicals reach his office after more than six months.

They regularly spray this chemical once a year before the annual Kataragama Esala festival begins, he said.

Although we don't receive the chemicals at proper time we launch many anti-Malaria programmes.

Meanwhile there was a controversial media revelation that these chemicals used against mosquitoes were allegedly sold to farmers as an insecticide by some unscrupulous employees attached to this office.