A progress review meeting on the implementation of the circular issued to address the prevailing dengue epidemic threat was held this afternoon (03) at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The discussion examined the progress of programmes implemented by all State institutions in accordance with the circular issued on 23 June 2026 on dengue prevention, as well as measures taken thus far to control the current dengue situation and the plans and strategies to be pursued in the future.
Attention was also focused on sustainable solutions that could be adopted through greater coordination among all State institutions to prevent the spread of dengue in high-risk areas, while discussions were held on further intensifying fumigation activities in such locations.
The meeting further reviewed the action taken in response to information received by the Dengue Control Operations Centre.
Pointing out that high-risk areas could only be freed from dengue through innovative approaches that move beyond conventional methods, the President’s Secretary stressed that controlling the disease could not be achieved by the Government alone and that the public also bore a significant responsibility in this regard.
The importance of strengthening the contribution of Public Health Inspectors, continuing household cleaning initiatives on a sustained basis, and implementing programmes based on accurate data to eliminate high-risk zones was also emphasised.
Those present at the meeting included Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi; Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Dr Anil Jasinghe; Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russell Aponsu; Additional Secretary to the President (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S. P. C. Sugeeshwara; Additional Secretary (Provincial Councils and Local Government) M. Kodippiliarachchi; Director of the National Dengue Control Unit Dr Kapila Kannangara; Additional Director General (Information Technology and Media) P. G. I. Gamage; Director (Social Affairs) Kapila Senarath; Director (Volunteer Services) H. P. S. Shantha; officials of the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat; heads of the health sector; public officials; senior representatives of the security forces; and several others.
