National Mosquito Control Week:

Over Rs 2.1 m in fines on mosquito breeders

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Health Ministry has earned over Rs. 2.1 million by imposing fines on mosquito breeders by the end of National Mosquito Control Week held from June 20 to 26. The number of cases filed and fined was 2,900.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has instructed PHIs and health authorities to re-inspect all identified mosquito breeding places, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, the re-inspection is to be done soon as instructed by Minister Sirisena.

Persons who ignored notices and are still having mosquito breeding sites within their properties are to be punished.

Legal action will be taken against all of them under the Mosquito Breeding Control Act No 12 of 2007.

Health authorities discovered 121,640 places with high mosquito larvae density and another 16,010 places with mosquito larvae during the National Mosquito Control Week between in June 20 and June 26. Notices were issued to 10,067 persons for having mosquito breeding places with larvae in their properties.

The number of persons warned was 258,268. A total of 468,841 places were inspected during the week, he said. Minister Sirisena thanked health authorities, Defence Ministry, Armed Forces, civil defence committees and Presidential Task Force for the support extended to implement the National Mosquito Control Week.

He stated that filing cases and imposing fines is not something that makes him happy. The authorities are being forced to implement the law against a handful of ignorant citizens.