In the Matara area, the readings were 15 for Aedes Aegypti and 53 for Aedes Albopictus. According to a recent report, Sri Lankans have sought to avoid mosquito bites by burning 1,110 metric tons of mosquito coils worth 102.28 billion rupees up to August this year. Working class and rural poor families are worst affected. The wealthy minority lives comfortably in air-conditioned homes. Even in the main cities of Sri Lanka, uncovered garbage dumps, open pits and potholes filled with polluted water, stagnant canals and sewer channels are common sights.
Many people live in shanties and slums, which are congested and lack sanitation.
These areas are paradises for mosquitoes. Yet poverty-stricken people often cannot even afford mosquito nets to cover themselves while sleeping. Newly appointed Health Minister W.J.M. Senewiratne has called on people to spend an hour a day cleaning up their surroundings. All the higher officials in the Health Ministry are repeating the same message. Clearly, the government is trying to wash its hands of any responsibility.