As the country faces a dengue season — this time compounded by a resurgence of chikungunya — the fight against mosquito breeding is again being waged in backyards, gardens, and clogged rainwater drains across Pradeshiya Sabha areas, just as political parties begin appointing their members to the newly-elected Local Councils.
In the face of a renewed public health crisis — and following the recently concluded Local Government elections — pressure is mounting not only on the Ministry of Health but also on local authorities to step up.
Urban Councils, Pradeshiya Sabhas, and Municipal Councils are under growing scrutiny to adopt a far more proactive, responsive, and accountable role in tackling the spread of dengue and chikungunya. That means going beyond rhetoric and taking decisive action to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding hotspots — an area where previous Councils repeatedly fell short, often reacting too late as outbreaks spiralled.
The public’s expectation for stronger Local Government action stems from years of frustration over recurring dengue outbreaks, piecemeal responses, and the glaring absence of a sustainable, year-round mosquito control strategy.
Residents are now demanding far better stewardship when it comes to the maintenance of storm drains, canals, and vacant lands — areas that have long been neglected by previous councils. For many, the perception is clear: local authorities have been reluctant to act, often waiting for the Ministry of Health to intervene only after hospitals begin to overflow with dengue patients. This reactive approach, critics say, is no longer acceptable.
What the public now expects is clear: local authorities and divisional health officials must deploy field teams to regularly inspect high-risk zones, apply larvicides — such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) — to stagnant water that cannot be drained, and most importantly, set up early detection systems to monitor mosquito density and flag outbreaks before they escalate. People want councils to act early — not after the damage is done.
There is also a strong call for coordination. The public no longer has patience for fragmented, ad hoc responses. They want Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas to work hand-in-hand with Medical Officers of Health (MOHs), Public Health Inspectors (PHIs), and school principals to identify and eliminate breeding sites.
Yet, in practice, meaningful Local Government involvement often remains invisible until the Ministry of Health takes the lead. Few Councils take the initiative to engage temples, churches, and mosques to mobilise volunteers or launch community-led mosquito control campaigns. In many areas, grassroots involvement remains an untapped resource in a crisis that demands all hands on deck.
Today’s citizens — particularly the younger generation — are no longer satisfied with outdated, bureaucratic responses. They are calling for smart, tech-enabled governance that reflects the urgency and complexity of the crisis. In countries such as Singapore and Thailand, the authorities have already embraced innovations such as GIS-based mapping of dengue hotspots, mobile apps and SMS platforms for the public to report breeding sites, and even drone surveys to monitor hard-to-reach urban slums and marshlands. Many youth are now asking: if they can do it, why can’t we?
Dengue and chikungunya cases have seen a marked rise in the Western Province in recent months, particularly in the Gampaha and Colombo districts. One of the most common public complaints is the lack of visible mosquito control measures on the ground — residents say fogging operations and larvicide applications are either sporadic or absent altogether in many areas, despite the growing threat.
Sharp increase
The Ministry of Health recently flagged a sharp increase in chikungunya cases in parts of Colombo and Kotte. According to the latest epidemiological reports, 173 cases were recorded in only one week across Colombo, Gampaha, and Kandy, prompting renewed concerns about the adequacy of local-level intervention.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, over 21,000 dengue cases have been reported across 15 districts so far this year, with ten confirmed deaths. Consultant Community Physician Dr. Preshila Samaraweera said the Western Province accounts for the highest number of infections — nearly 45 percent — with the majority of cases reported from Colombo and Gampaha.
The districts worst affected include Colombo, Gampaha, Ratnapura, Batticaloa, Kandy, Galle, Matara, Trincomalee, Kurunegala, and Kalmunai.
In response, the health authorities have ramped up inspections, checking over 40,000 premises in only two days. These inspections uncovered 10,613 mosquito breeding sites. Over 1,000 red warnings have been issued to households and construction sites, and legal action has been initiated in 347 cases.
Residents in the Colombo and Gampaha districts say that, despite the surge in dengue and chikungunya cases, fogging operations remain a rare sight. Many complain that mosquito-control efforts appear minimal, even as infections continue to rise. Health officials themselves admit that major breeding grounds are not residential homes, but the surroundings of schools, religious institutions, construction sites, factories, and even Government buildings.
When asked about the main challenges in curbing the current outbreaks, Regional Director of Health Services in Gampaha, Dr. Indrani Malwenna was quick to respond.
“The community must take greater responsibility in eliminating mosquito breeding sites,” she said. “People don’t realise these mosquitoes can breed in something as ordinary as the water collected in the freezer trays of old refrigerators — or even in the tiny wells formed in discarded Panadol blister packs thrown in the garden.”
Dr. Malwenna said that dengue and chikungunya are primarily spread by two mosquito species — Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus — which flourish in man-made environments. “These mosquitoes breed in clean, stagnant water often found in and around our homes. Controlling them means changing everyday habits and paying close attention to the smallest details,” she added.
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus — the primary vectors of dengue and chikungunya — can complete their life cycle in as little as seven to 10 days under the right conditions, making them rapid and persistent threats during the monsoon season.
Urban mosquito
Aedes aegypti, often dubbed the “urban mosquito,” is the principal carrier of dengue. It thrives near human habitation, breeding in clean, stagnant water found in overhead tanks, discarded plastic containers, flower vases, and even unused bathroom fittings. This mosquito bites most aggressively in the early mornings and late afternoons, placing city-dwellers at particularly high risk.
Its cousin, Aedes albopictus — commonly known as the “tiger mosquito” for its distinctive white-striped legs—is more widespread in rural and semi-urban areas. Unlike the aegypti, it can breed in natural water-holding environments such as coconut shells, tree holes, and leaf axils. Its adaptability makes it a persistent threat even in less densely populated regions.
Unlike the Malaria-spreading mosquitoes that bite at night, both dengue vectors are active during the day — and, perhaps more alarmingly, can bite multiple people in a single feeding cycle, significantly raising the risk of virus transmission.
Health officials have issued a fresh warning as dengue and chikungunya continue to spread across the Western Province, with the alarming possibility of simultaneous infection now on the radar.
“A person can contract dengue and chikungunya at the same time,” said Director of Health Services for the Western Province, Dr. Dhammika Jayalath. “The real danger is that treatment for chikungunya, such as certain painkillers, could prove fatal if the patient is also suffering from dengue.”
Both viral diseases are transmitted by infected female Aedes mosquitoes — Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus — which are also responsible for spreading the Zika virus and yellow fever. These mosquitoes are most active during daylight hours, with Aedes aegypti feeding indoors and outdoors. They prefer to breed in clean, stagnant water — making common household containers, discarded plastic, and rooftop gutters ideal nurseries.
The situation is especially worrying in the region’s schools. According to Western Province Acting Education Director P.R. Dewabandu, the province has 1,340 schools and 3,600 pre-schools, serving over 900,000 children. Given that Aedes mosquitoes are day-biters, schoolchildren are highly vulnerable to infection during school hours.
Efforts to curb breeding grounds are under way, though some say they remain insufficient. Chief Medical Officer at the Colombo Municipal Council’s Public Health Department, Dr. Geethika Rathnawardena, said that in the first quarter of this year alone, around 70,000 homes in the Colombo area were inspected for mosquito breeding, resulting in the issuance of 1,724 notices to offending households.
Dengue and chikungunya often present similar symptoms: high fever, severe joint and muscle pain, headaches, and overwhelming fatigue. While both illnesses can escalate without early intervention, dengue remains the more lethal, with the very young and elderly most at risk of complications or death.
Dual infections
Health authorities are urging schools, parents, and Local Councils to be extra vigilant. With infections on the rise and dual infections now a confirmed risk, the emphasis is on coordinated, continuous mosquito control — not reactive fogging or scattered clean-up drives.
“We’re seeing an increase in breeding during the rainy season,” said Dr. Malwenna. “People often forget that water collects in small, hidden places — rooftop gutters, floor corners of balconies, flower pots, even discarded lids. These spots become perfect mosquito nurseries.”
Some people think that fogging is a sustainable long-term solution against mosquito population, While fogging is effective for immediate relief, its repeated use without broader vector control strategies may backfire by fostering insecticide-resistant mosquito populations, she said.
Public health experts strongly recommend it be used only as a supplementary emergency measure during outbreaks with a focus to eliminate breeding sites.
“Fogging involves dispersing a fine mist or fog of insecticide — usually pyrethroids — into the air to kill adult mosquitoes on contact. The fog targets mosquitoes in their active state, particularly those flying or resting in exposed areas such as gardens, open drains, and around buildings,” she said. .
Epidemiologists said that combatting these diseases cannot be left to the health authorities alone. “Every household matters,” one official said. “This is a public health battle that demands joint responsibility —between local authorities, health workers, and the public. Without that, we will continue to see these outbreaks year after year.”
