Live NewsDengue Situation in Sri Lanka

A special dengue eradication operation is set to be launched as part of the national program aimed at controlling the rapidly spreading dengue threat across the country.

The campaign, organized under the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, will be conducted over three days from June 24 to 26. A media briefing regarding the initiative was held today (23) at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

During the briefing, the Secretary to the President emphasized that public awareness and community participation are crucial for the success of dengue control efforts. He noted that, due to prevailing rainy weather conditions, dengue transmission levels have shown an increasing trend compared to last year.

He further stated that the government is working to develop both short-term and long-term strategies to address the issue more effectively.

Attention was also drawn to the continued risk of mosquito breeding in residential areas, as well as in government institutions, factories, and workplaces, with authorities urging all stakeholders to maintain clean environments.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Anil Jasinghe also provided an update on the current dengue situation, associated risks, and ongoing government interventions.

Secretary to the President Kumanayake further called on media organizations to support public awareness efforts, stressing that community engagement and environmental cleanliness remain key priorities in the fight against dengue.

A total of 538 Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions across 14 districts in the country have been identified as high-risk areas for dengue transmission, according to the latest dengue control assessment for June 2026.

Health authorities have designated these areas for intensified dengue prevention and control activities due to the increased risk of disease transmission.

According to the report, the Western Province has been the most severely affected, with a majority of high-risk Grama Niladhari divisions identified in the Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara districts.

In the Colombo District, within the Colombo Municipal Council jurisdiction, Grama Niladhari divisions in several Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas, including Maharagama, Piliyandala, Homagama, Kaduwela, Boralesgamuwa, Dehiwala, Egodauyana, and Gothatuwa, have been identified as high-risk zones.

Similarly, in the Gampaha District, Grama Niladhari divisions in several areas, including Attanagalla, Seeduwa, Kelaniya, Ragama, Minuwangoda, Negombo, Biyagama, Wattala, Katana, and Mahara, have been included in the high-risk list.

In the Kalutara District, Grama Niladhari divisions in the areas of Bandaragama, Horana, Ingiriya, Matugama, Panadura, Wadduwa, Kalutara, and Payagala have also been identified as high-risk areas.

Furthermore, the report notes that Grama Niladhari divisions in the Galle, Hambantota, Matara, Kandy, Matale, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Badulla, and Batticaloa districts have also been included in the high-risk list.

See the full list below:

A total of 47,530 dengue cases and 29 related deaths have been reported across Sri Lanka so far this year, according to the latest data released by the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).

The NDCU stated that a total of 13,689 dengue cases have been reported so far within the month of June alone.

Meanwhile, 51.90% of all reported dengue cases have been recorded from the Western Province, while 16.18% have been reported from the Southern Province.

Authorities have also identified a total of 112 high-risk Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions for dengue transmission.

According to the latest figures, the highest number of cases has been reported from the Colombo District with 9,983 cases, followed by Gampaha District with 8,809 cases and Matara District with 3,446 cases.

A three-day nationwide dengue control programme will be carried out from June 24 to 26 as authorities step up efforts to curb the spread of dengue amid the ongoing southwest monsoon season.

The decision was taken during a discussion held today (22) at the Presidential Secretariat on short-term and long-term strategies to combat the rapidly spreading dengue threat caused by the southwest monsoon season.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, the President’s Media Division said in a statement.

Accordingly, it was decided to issue a circular outlining the measures to be taken for short-term dengue control, covering government institutions, schools and local government bodies. It was also decided to implement dengue control programmes across 600 Grama Niladhari divisions during the three-day period of June 24, 25 and 26, the PMD noted. 

In addition, a decision has been taken to establish a monitoring unit under the leadership of the Tri-Forces, strengthen legal enforcement measures and further reinforce dengue prevention activities through the Community Empowerment and Public Safety Committees that have already been established at the local level. 

The discussion emphasized the urgent need to accelerate short-term interventions, as schools, factories, government institutions and places of worship have been identified as major breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes, the PMD added. 

The participants also held extensive discussions on long-term measures required to prevent similar outbreaks and trends in the future. 

The Chief of Staff to the President, Prabath Chandrakeerthi; Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the Ministry of Energy Russell Aponsu; Additional Secretary to the President and Head of the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat S.P.C. Sugeeshwara; as well as officials representing the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education; the Ministry of Health and Mass Media; the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs; the National Dengue Control Unit; the National Institute of Infectious Diseases; the University of Sri Jayewardenepura; the Regional Director of Health Services Office; the Colombo Municipal Council; the Department of Government Information; and the Sri Lanka tri-forces attended the discussions. 
 

Despite early warnings about a potential dengue outbreak, the number of reported dengue cases has increased sharply due to the failure of certain authorities and officials to implement timely preventive measures, according to the Health Entomology Officers' Association.

The Association's President, Najith Sumanasena, stated that the Breteau Index, which measures the density of dengue mosquito larvae, had been steadily increasing since January and had exceeded 25 percent in many areas by April.

Sumanasena noted that the relevant provincial authorities were informed of the situation in April through the Director of the National Dengue Control Unit. However, delays in decision-making by officials in certain divisions contributed significantly to the escalation of the outbreak, he said.

He further explained that the re-emergence in 2026 of the same dengue virus strain that was prevalent in 2017, combined with low levels of immunity among the population, has also contributed to the rise in infections.

He further said that the relevant authorities had been informed of the situation in April, following which the Director of the National Dengue Control Unit had notified the respective provincial administrations.

"However, there were delays in decision-making by certain officials and authorities in some divisions. While some areas responded promptly to the warnings, others failed to take the necessary action. One of the primary reasons for the sharp increase in dengue cases reported by June is the delay in implementing preventive measures, despite forecasts indicating the likelihood of such an outbreak. Another contributing factor is the re-emergence of the viral strain that circulated in 2017, against which many people currently have limited immunity," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Prashila Samaraweera, Community Physician Specialist at the National Dengue Control Unit, stated that 45,037 dengue cases and 28 deaths had been reported island-wide so far in 2026.

She further noted that a particularly high number of cases continues to be reported from the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Matara, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Galle and Nuwara Eliya.

Dr. Samaraweera also urged the public to remain vigilant, emphasizing that reducing the spread of dengue required collective action.

"Eliminating mosquito breeding sites remains the most effective method of controlling the disease. If everyone regularly inspects their surroundings and removes potential breeding grounds, we can significantly reduce the spread of dengue. We look forward to the cooperation of the public in this effort," she added.