Mosquito breeding zones in govt owned flats:

Minister to present video to Cabinet

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena will present a video clip and a report to the Cabinet on illegal constructions in government owned flats in Colombo which have become dengue mosquito breeding zones, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, Minister Sirisena will present the documentaries to the Cabinet this week to inform the Cabinet on permanent hazards which prevent the government's dengue control programme. The majority of the residents of government owned flats had built illegal constructions, blocking all drains which have now become mosquito breeding sites.

Health authorities cannot reach the blocked drains because of the illegal constructions built on them.

"The illegal constructions are luxurious attachments to the existing flats. Some are nearly 75 metres long and built on drains. Blocked drains cannot be cleaned without removing all these illegal constructions. It is the responsibility of the National Housing Development Authority to remove those illegal constructions," he said.

"Health authorities will take legal action against flat owners if they do not remove their illegal constructions allowing the relevant institutions to clean the blocked drains. The Colombo district and CMC records the highest number of dengue cases," he added.