By-laws to combat dengue

Shirley WIJESINGHE

By-laws of the Local Government Ordinance had been prepared and submitted for approval by all Provincial Councils approval, Local Government and Provincial Council Ministry Secretary Dr Nihal Jayathilaka said.

Anyone who violates these by-laws will be fined Rs. 15,000. These by-laws specially applied to those who create dengue breeding spots in domestic as well as industrial premises, he added.

He was addressing the media at the Information Ministry auditorium yesterday.

Dr Jayathilaka said the Local Government Ordinance is outdated and will be amended soon.

He said the dengue prevention techniques are not properly imparted to local bodies by the respective Provincial Health Department.

A proper program is already in place with the assistance of the Local Government Commissioners and Provincial Health Directors to make the local bodies aware of this.

He also proposed to continue the dengue prevention campaign in a more active form even in the months of September and October too. There are 76 local bodies in 65 divisional secretariats that have been declared as high risk zones for dengue, he added.