Govt to amend Mosquito Breeding Control Act

Powers to PHIs to inspect private properties

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The Government is planning to amend the Mosquito Breeding Control Act to provide wider powers for Public Health Inspectors and other officials to inspect private properties to identify possible dengue mosquito breeding grounds.

The Act stipulates officials to seek written permission from the occupants or owners of houses or premises to have their properties inspected for likely mosquito breeding spots. If they refuse to give permission, a Magisterial order has to be obtained to enter such premises.

This has created problems for authorities in their efforts to control the spread of dengue.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has called for the removal of relevant proposals by amending the Act, a Health Ministry spokesman said. Dengue has claimed 13 people so far this year.

A total of 1,105 cases of dengue infections have been identified.

In 2010 dengue killed 246 people. The number of cases reported was 34,105.

The Health Ministry spokesman said that immediate action has to be taken to destroy identified breeding grounds as the mosquito responsible had the capacity to roam in a radius of two square kilometers during its one week life cycle.

According to him officials have faced a number of snags when gaining access to private property for inspection, including legal issues and harassment..