Cabinet has decided to amend the Prevention of Mosquito Breeding Act to increase the minimum penalty up to Rs. 5000.00, the Government Information Department stated.
Under this Act any person not taking proper measures to destroy mosquito breeding grounds is punished with a fine.
The act was amended previously, in May last year so as legal action can be initiated quickly against those responsible for running breeding grounds.
“Proposal made by Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Health, to bring in amendments to the existing Act, No.11 of 2007, as recommended by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation, to enhance the powers of the relevant Authorities in the prevention of mosquito breeding, so as to curb the spreading of the dangerous dengue disease which has reached epidemic proportions, was approved by the Cabinet.”
Accordingly the minimum mandatory fine will be increased to Rs 5000.00 while empowering the Director General of Health Service and the Provincial Director of Health Services to declare any specific area as a “High Risk area” effective for a specific period, a statement announcing the cabinet decisions said.
