Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senartane said he will propose that the laws should be amended in such a way to make a person or institution responsible for breeding dengue larvae pay compensation if a person in the locality died of dengue and to increase the fine on persons or institutions responsible for having mosquito breeding grounds in their premises to Rs. 25,000.
“Existing laws should be amended to combat dengue hemorrhagic fever which has reached epidemic proportions with 46,000 reported cases and 76 deaths in recent times,” the minister said.
The minister expressed these views at a meeting at the Gampaha Health Services Director’s Office on Saturday to review the progress of dengue control activities in the district.
Dr. Senaratne said residents in Madammulla, Minuwangoda complained that dengue control activities were not handled properly in the area when he visited Gampaha district hospital on an inspection tour and directed health officers to conduct effective fogging activities in the region.
Public Health Inspectors pointed out that a mother of two died of dengue on Friday.
They said a mosquito breeding place at a nearby private institution had made he contract the disease.
The minister asked health officials to join hands with the Police and go to court to obtain some compensation payment from the institution to the family of the victim.