Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

[Shiloh]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Source: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/100502/News/nws_08.html

Monsoon rains expected to whip up spread of dengue

Dengue cases are expected to increase dramatically with the onset of the monsoon season, health officials warn. So far this year there have been 12,722 cases of dengue across the country, with 75 deaths reported.

According to Dr. Sudath Pieris, senior epidemiologist, Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health, the best way to control the spread of dengue is to prevent the Aedes mosquito from breeding. No anti-dengue vaccine is available, he added.?We expect heavy rains in the next few weeks, so we advise the public to keep their premises clean and help us check mosquito breeding,? he said.

Dr. Pieris said local authorities, and the municipal councils in particular, should be vigilant about solid waste management. The mosquito menace is especially acute in urban areas, where there is an abundance of potential mosquito-breeding spots. ?The provincial councils, the municipal councils and the divisional secretariats should initiate cleaning campaigns and get the public involved. Public participation is essential,? he said.

The Colombo Municipal Council has launched a ?green star? programme that encourages residents to keep their houses and gardens free of mosquito breeding spots. Houses that qualify are entitled to a green star. According to Dr. Pieris, the green star programme has been a success.

Jaffna has been identified as the district with the highest dengue rate, with a total of 1,944 cases, while Colombo has reported 1,527 cases, and Gampaha 1,525. Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Anuradhapura have also reported a high incidence of dengue.

?Since the A9 road was opened, there has been a heavy traffic of people from the South travelling to the North,? Dr. Pieris said.

?For almost 30 years there was little or no contact between the North and the South. The virus is spread by mosquitoes attacking virus-carrying travellers from the South. Most of the people in the North are not immune to the virus.?

Dr. Pieris said travellers to the North could help contain the dengue menace by refraining from throwing containers and polythene bags that can hold water and encourage mosquito breeding.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Source: http://www.nation.lk/2010/05/09/news7.htm

More adult dengue victims

By Carol Aloysius

More adults than children succumbed to the dreaded Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) in 2009 and in the current year, up to April end, 60% of those who died from DHF were adults.

?This gives us an important signal of the age pattern of the disease. It has now shifted to adults. Whereas previously the victims of DHF were mostly children between the ages of 10-15 years, in 2009 and the first four months of this year, they were mostly young adults between the ages of 20-25 years,? Dr. Hasitha Tissera, Consultant Epidemiologist told The Nation.

He noted with concern the sharp rise of Dengue Fever (DF) and DHF in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. ?The increase so far is around 200%. This is an unacceptable rate. We need to act fast to arrest further escalation of the disease.?

According to him a total of 13,283 cases of dengue fever have been reported this year ? from January to April end, with 76 deaths resulting from DHF. The bulk of cases were reported in January (4,672 with 48 deaths. Jaffna reported the highest number of cases ? a total of 1,985 with 16 deaths; while Colombo came second with 1,606 cases being reported and 15 deaths (Colombo MC area reported 530 cases and five deaths). Gampaha came third with a total of 1,574 cases and eight deaths.

?The positive news is that the number of deaths has dropped significantly from January, which was the peak month this year for DHF fatalities. From 48 deaths in January, there were only 10 deaths in February. In March there was a slight increase to 14 deaths. But April saw a drop to just six which is encouraging. This drop is probably because of on going operations to reduce mosquito breeding sites by both public and private sectors as well as the residents,? he said.

Starting from May 3 the Health Ministry declared a Dengue Week, which concludes today May 9. There are two peak seasons in the disease which coincided with the monsoon rains. The first peak season which is currently on is when the South West monsoon breaks ? i.e. from May to July while the second peak season is from October to December.
?The majority of dengue cases occur during the first peak season which is now, because the rains are experienced mostly in densely populated areas. So, unless we act fast and make a concerted effort to reduce the mosquito breeding sites drastically, there can be a further escalation of the epidemic,? the Ministry spokesman warned.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Source: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10A/May24_1274709254KA.php

No Cuban bacteria; Sri Lanka to use local BTI to prevent dengue
Mon, May 24, 2010, 07:24 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

May 24, Colombo: As the epidemics are expected to rise with the receding floods in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Health has decided to use locally produced Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis (BTI) bacteria to arrest the dengue menace.

The Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena said that the much hyped Cuban BTI would not be imported since it is too expensive.

The bacteria are to be spread island wide to kill the larvae of the dengue mosquito.

A Presidential task Force is also set to be active from tomorrow for the prevention of dengue. The Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena said that the new slogan of the anti dengue campaign in Sri Lanka is 'People come to streets to prevent dengue.'

Meanwhile, United National Party Deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya said in a press conference held in Colombo today that the drainage channels blocked due to security concerns also contributed to floods. He asked the authorities to remove the blockade in drainage systems since the war on terrorism has ended.

Addressing the media United National Party MP Gayantha Karunathilaka said that the main reason for floods is the illegal construction and unauthorized land filling. He charged that the government was inactive regarding these so far.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/provincial-news/11470.html

Dengue on the rise in Matale again
Wednesday, 26 May 2010 00:00

By M.W.somaratne

The deadly Dengue fever is raising its ugly head again in the Matale district. Director of Health Services Matale Dr. Anura Dissanayake, Matale said more than 100 Dengue positive patients were reported during the past four months. Matale Municipal limits, Ukuwela, Rattota and Yatwatta Health Service Divisions are the worst affected. Statistically 800 patients were reported in 2009 and 17 of them had died. However the deadly diseased had been brought under control early this year but with the breakout of monsoon rains resulted in the spread of the disease. Dr. Dissanayake said a crash programme was launched with the help of the Civil Society Organisations at District Level and the Divisional Level to prevent the spread of the disease.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Source: http://www.lankatimes.com/fullstory.php?id=27354

A fresh effort to tackle dengue

The Presidential Dengue Task Force has set up five structural committees to fight dengue at a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat, according to the Health Ministry

The committee included Ministers of Health, Environment, Public Administration and Home Affairs, Provincial and Local Government, Education, Defence, Finance, Governors, Chief Ministers, and the Health Secretary.

The committee is to meet every three months, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

The second SC includes all provincial health ministers, provincial directors of health and provincial epidemiologists.

They are to hold discussions on the prevalent situation once in every two months.

Structural committees were also established at a District Level headed by the District Secretary, and other committees at Divisional Secretary level and at the Grama Niladari level.

Grama Niladaris will form committees with school principals, the clergy and village heads and meet once a week.

The spokesman said that it had been decided to blacklist those who did not carry out their duties or refused to co-operate with the panels.

As of last Tuesday (May 25), the number of dengue patients this year has risen to 14,553.

The highest numbers were seen during the first two months of the year when the number of dengue patients rose to more than 4,000.

The numbers crossed 30,000 last year.
Source :The island

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/news/11912.html


CMC warns of likely Dengue epidemic
Monday, 31 May 2010 00:00

By Yohan Perera

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) yesterday warned that a dengue epidemic was likely in the Colombo City in two weeks time.

CMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam told the Daily Mirror that there had been 10 cases of Dengue in the city during the last ten days. In addition there had been around 50 cases of dengue within the month of May...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/front-page-news/12164.html

Five patients get dengue in hospital
Thursday, 03 June 2010 00:39

By Yohan Perera

Colombo Municipal Council’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam in a shocking disclosure yesterday said five patients who were admitted to the Sri Lanka National Hospital last month over some other aliments had caught a dengue infection.

He said some 150 cases of dengue had been reported from Colombo last month but that this was less than the number of cases reported for the similar period last year.

Dr. Kariyawasam did not rule out the possibility of an increase in the number of such cases this month as a result of the heavy rains that lashed the country some weeks ago.

He said the rains which fall from time to time also contributed to the spread of dengue...

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Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/news/12157.html

Dengue spreading on epidemic level
Thursday, 03 June 2010 00:28

By Ranjan Kasthuri

For the past six months from various parts of the country 15,000 dengue patients have been detected and out of them 85 patients had died, the Colombo Epidemiology Unit said.

The Epidemiologists said the danger of spreading dengue in an epidemic level could be due to the prevailing weather condition.

Specialists have shown that the dengue fever was fast spreading in Colombo, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Jaffna and Batticaloa districts.

Therefore, they request the public to keep the home environment clean and also to clean up places prone to mosquito breeding.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/provincial-news/12320-dengue-in-uva-.html


Dengue in Uva
Saturday, 05 June 2010 00:06



By Prasad Rukmal and Wimal Dissanayake

The dengue epidemic is raising its head in the Uva Province. So far four patients have died and 311 have tested positive for dengue in the Uva Province.

Badulla District Epidemiologist Dr. P.C.K.Adikari said a lecturer of the Uva Wellssa University was among those who had died. He said the victim was from Monaragala. A one year old girl, a 35 year old man from Uva Paranagama and a 36 year old woman from Wellawaya were the others who had died.

Dr. Adikari said Welimada and Uva Paranagama, in the Badulla district, and Madulla, Badalkumbura and Monaragala in the Monaragala District had been identified as the worst affected areas. He said the health authorities had launched a crash programme, that included fumigation and environmental awareness promotion activities, with public participation to prevent the spread of the disease.

Meanwhile two patients had died of dengue at the Monaragala General Hospital during the last two weeks. However the Hospital Director Dr. R.M.D. Ratnayake said the two young men had contracted the disease elsewhere. He said 12 patients who exhibited the symptoms of dengue were under treatment at the hospital.

The hospital director said about 100 suspected dengue patients had been discharged after treatment during the first five months of the year.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/provincial-news/12579.html


Dengue on the rise in Moneragala
Wednesday, 09 June 2010 00:00

By Sumanasiri Gunatilleka

Statistically 236 Dengue patients were reported from the Moneragala district during the first five months of the year. Acting Medical Officer of the Divisional Epidemiology Unit Dr. G.H.S.G. Wanigadewa said the number of patients increased in a large percentage this year when compared to the previous year. He said only 188 patients were identified in 2009 and it was a matter of serious concern that this number increased to 236 by the end of May 15 this year. He pointed out that 70 patients were reported from Madulla MOH Division, 42 from Badalkumbura Division, and 25 from Moneragala Division and 22 from Wellawaya Division. A Dengue prevention programme with the participation of the Moneragala police and the civil society organisation was launched on the instructions of Moneragala Divisional Secretary Upali Jayasekara.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/front-page-news/13105-dengue-on-the-rise.html

Dengue on the rise
Tuesday, 15 June 2010 00:32

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

The spread of dengue is on the rise due to the prevailing weather conditions and the Presidential Task Force has set up District Dengue Control Committees to tackle the situation, Government Epidemiology Unit Director Dr. Pabha Palihawadana said yesterday.

?The cases of dengue reported up to the last week of June was 16,168 and the number of deaths stood at 104,? Dr. Palihawadana told Daily Mirror.

The GEU said it noted a significant increase of dengue cases in the Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces.

Meanwhile, Dengue Control Programme Director Dr. Nimalka Pannilahetti said the Presidential Task Force on Dengue headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed 25 District Dengue Control Committees which have been tasked to put the dengue epidemic under control in each district.

?We have dispatched sufficient stocks of drugs and medical equipment to face the threat. The dengue awareness programmes at schools, government institutions, local government bodies and households are under way. The MOH offices have been instructed to take strict punitive measures against those who do not destroy mosquito breeding grounds at their housing premises,? she stressed.

Dr. Pannilahetti said the Malaria Control Programme has bee permitted to import a stock of BTI from Cuba and the first consignment of the stock of 30,000 liters is expected in July.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/news/13714.html


1574 dengue cases so far
Wednesday, 23 June 2010 01:01

By Ranjan Kasthuri

In different parts of the island, there have been 17,035 dengue cases reported within the last six months of this year Out of them 113 cases had been fatal, according to the Institute of Epidemiological Sciences of Colombo.

So far this month alone, the number of cases reported as positive reached 1,574, the official said. The majority of the positive cases at 2,217 have been reported in Colombo District while 21 of them had been fatal.

The monthly incidence of cases this year so far has been reported as 4,672 in January, 4,544 in February, 2,400 in March, 1,964 in April, 1,881 in May and 1,574 up to now in June.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Source: http://www.colombopage.com/archive_10A/Jun24_1277393295KA.php

Dengue outbreak claims 113 lives so far this year in Sri Lanka
Thu, Jun 24, 2010, 08:58 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Jun 24, Colombo: the latest statistics on dengue from the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry says 113 dengue victims have died so far this year.

The number of dengue patients so far diagnosed increased to 17,411, although it has been declining from a high of 4,672 in January to a lowest of 1,888 in May, the statistics showed.

The month of June has shown a rise in the number of cases to 1,943 due to the devastating floods last month in most parts of the country.

The highest number of patients, 2,354 was diagnosed from Colombo, the most developed district of the country.

Jaffna and Gampaha districts also showed high prevalence of the disease. The number of patients diagnosed in Jaffna district is 2,181 while 2,129 were found from Gampaha district.

There were 1,253 patients traced from Ratnapura district while 1,048 cases have been reported from Batticaloa district.

The outbreak of dengue was remarkable in Kurunegala, Puttalam, Ampara and Kalutara districts as well, points out the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health.

The Epidemiology Unit urges the public to keep their environments clean to prevent breeding of the dengue mosquitoes.

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Dengue bomb shell:

Around 800 new cases, five deaths a week
Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Around 800 new dengue cases are diagnosed weekly while five deaths from dengue are also reported, Dr P.A.S.R. Pieris of the Health Ministry Epidemiology Unit said. During the past six months over 18,500 dengue cases have been reported from Sri Lanka and the number of deaths reported during the same period is 122, he said.

Addressing the first progress review meeting of the Presidential Task Force established to control dengue at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, Dr. Peiris said during the past six months, Colombo had recorded the highest number of dengue patients (2,500) and 25 deaths.

The number of dengue patients reported from the Jaffna district during the past six months is 2,300 while 16 deaths were recorded, he said.

Dr. Peiris said Hikkaduwa, Badulla, Badalkumbura and Mannar Divisional Secretariat divisions have been identified as newly emerged areas with a high number of dengue cases.

There are several other MOH areas already identified as high risk areas, he said.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said between 75 to 100 persons die of dengue daily in New Delhi.

The Central Environmental Authority can take legal action against any State institution that does not carry out their duties and clean mosquito breeding sites, he said and commended efforts by all institutions to control dengue.

The Minister pointed out the importance of educating the public and schoolchildren on controlling dengue by keeping the environment clean.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/07/06/news51.asp

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Overflow due to dengue Saturday, 10 July 2010 01:25


Dengue has now taken epidemic proportion with 132 deaths and 19,960 reported cases island-wide. Many of the victims are children as Dengue Fever mainly affects children. The Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital, Colombo is seeing an influx of admissions for dengue. Our picture taken yesterday shows children at one of the hospital corridor as the wards were full.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/front-image/15298.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

BTI bacteria will be sprayed in some areas as a measure to eliminate Dengue menace.

Deputy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says government has taken all necessary measures to prevent spreading dengue menace. Accordingly, BTI bacteria will be sprayed in high-risk areas by the end of this month. The Deputy Minister stresses that public support is very much essential to implement this programme successfully. Participating at a programme in SLBC this morning, he said the opposition should also support to the government in this connection. Without attempting to gain political mileage by this issue.
http://www.slbc.lk/index.php/compon...reas-as-a-measure-to-eliminate-dengue-menace-

Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis (Bti) is a group of bacteria used as biological control agents for larvae stages of certain Dipterans. Bti produces toxins which are effective in killing various species of mosquitoes, fungus gnats, and blackflies, while having almost no effect on other organisms. Indeed this is one of the major advantages of B. thuringiensis products in general is that they are thought to affect few non-target species.

Bti strains possess the pBtoxis plasmid which encodes numerous Cry and Cyt toxins, including Cry4, Cry10, Cry11, Cyt1 and Cyt2. The crystal aggregation which these toxins form contains at least four major toxic components but the extent to which each Cry and Cyt protein is represented is not known and likely to vary with strain and formulation. Both Cry and Cyt proteins are pore forming toxins; they lyse midgut epithelial cells by inserting into the target cell membrane and forming pores.[1]

Commercial formulations include "Mosquito Dunks"/"Mosquito Bits." It is also available in bulk liquid or granular formulations for commercial and public agency use.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis_israelensis

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

hattip Chen Qi

Deadly dengue spreads, Health Ministry worried on a 'rushed' experiment using the BTI bacteria
Sat, 2010-07-17 01:31 — editor
Breaking News
By Joseph Thavaraja
Colombo, 17 July, (Asiantribune.com): Sri Lanka is at present experiencing a disturbing period of seven days and came to a close -where record 1845 new dengue cases and 9 deaths have been reported.
Sri Lanka continued to appear helpless on the latest wave of dengue onslaught. The dengue problem is reported across the country, but is mostly concentrated in the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha & Kandy.

Latest statistics show that in the period of January 1 to July 14 this year, 20647 cases of dengue have been reported. The number of deaths: 149!
The Health Ministry (MoH) officials too are reportedly worried about Sri Lanka’s rushed dengue control experiment using the BTI bacteria.

The Bacillus Thuriengiensis (BTI) bacteria which can destroy the larva of the dengue mosquito, is to be infused into potential dengue larva breeding water pools and bodies.

But Health Ministry officials are worried of this rushed experiment saying that the bacteria can effect on a fragile eco system and can affect indigenous Sri Lankan butterflies. Lankan national media reported that officials’ hands were tied since the orders to use BTI ‘came from top’.

The BTI solution to be sprayed has been bottled in 100, 200 ml containers and also in one & four liter cans. On their part, officials too simply continued to reissue their warnings to households whenever dengue raised its ugly head.

This practice became a matter of routine. They asked households to ‘destroy any potential dengue sites in their gardens and surroundings immediately’ insisting that the warning came from ‘dengue experts’
http://asiantribune.com/news/2010/0...-worried-rushed-experiment-using-bti-bacteria

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

Dengue Claims 158 Lives in Sri Lanka as Officials Struggle to Contain OutbreakBy Anuradha K. Herath Colombo : Sri Lanka | Jul 21, 2010 1


Dengue has taken the lives of 158 people in Sri Lanka this year as the officials struggle to combat the continuing epidemic.

In the latest effort, the inspector general of police (IGP) has set up an environmental protection unit to monitor neighborhoods and ensure that residents are maintaining clean environments around their homes and businesses.

At a media briefing in Colombo on Tuesday IGP Mahinda Balasuriya said, ?We need public assistance in order to eradicate this dengue menace.?

Throughout the country the police have established 143 units to monitor the cleanliness of the environment in order to prevent mosquito breeding grounds.

According to the latest data issued by the health ministry?s epidemiological unit 21,486 dengue cases have been reported this year so far with January being the worst month with 4,672 cases and 50 deaths.

The Colombo district has been the worst-affected with 3,410 cases while the Gampaha district reported 2,541 cases and Jaffna recorded 2,419. An ongoing problem within Colombo city limits is the improper dumping of garbage.

Anura Senanayake, the deputy inspector general of police, encouraged the public not to dump garbage on the roadside, particularly at night. Nearly 300 people have already been arrested for throwing garbage along roadsides.

According to the government information department, the health ministry, with the help of security forces, will crack down more severely on those who violate the law and do not maintain a clean environment. Persons who are not maintaining a clean environment could be imprisoned for up to six months.
http://www.allvoices.com/contribute...nka-as-officials-struggle-to-contain-outbreak

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

164 Deaths And 22,159 Dengue Cases So Far This Year

The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry states that the outbreak of Dengue fever has caused 164 deaths while 22,159 cases have been reported so far this year.

The Unit reported that the highest number of deaths of 45 had been reported from the Colombo district followed by Gampaha district with 21 deaths and Jaffna district with 16 deaths.

Twenty deaths out of the 45 from Colombo district were reported from the Colombo Municipal Council limits while the other 25 were reported from areas including the Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council that has been declared a Dengue high risk zone since last week.

The highest number of dengue patients amounting to 3,341 has been recorded in the month of July between the 1st and 24th of the month.
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/07/24/164-deaths-and-22159-dengue-cases-so-far-this-year/

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

3 die of dengue fever in Mannaar in July
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 July 2010, 19:20 GMT]
Three of twenty-nine dengue patients admitted in Mannaar general hospital have died in July. Meanwhile, the Department of Health in Mannaar has launched a campaign against the spread of dengue.

The victims were identified as Krishnaselvi of Madukkarai, 31, Nageswari, 41, of Ezhuthoor in Periyakamam, Sajithkumar, 7, of Keari, health department sources in Mannaar said.

The Department of Health has appealed to heads of schools and local authorities in Mannaar to ensure that no refuse is left along roads and public places and school compounds.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=32307

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sri Lanka: 2010 dengue cases

At least he's increasing awareness

Mervyn ties man to tree .
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 14:46 .12345( 23 Votes )
By Gandhya Senanayake

Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva tied a Kelaniya Pradeshya Sabha official to a mango tree a short while ago over his failure to attend a dengue prevention programme in Kelaniya last week.

The official was however later released while two other women and a man were also reprimanded by the Deputy Minister over their failure to attend the same programme.

The Deputy Minister also severely warned one of the lady officers after she raised her strong objections in seeing the male Pradeshya Sabha official being tied to a tree.

The Deputy Minister warned her to be quiet if not suffer a similar fate.

Deputy Minister Silva however said that that the media report that a child in his electorate had died due to dengue was untrue because the child was not from his electorate. The man who was tied to the tree however said he could not attend the event as his child was ill the day the programme was conducted.

The event took place amidst the presence of journalists who were invited by the Deputy Minister to witness the incident.
Deputy Minister Silva further stated that this was only the first warning to the officials and further action would be taken if incidents of this nature continued.


The three officials who pleaded their innocence claiming that they did attend the prevention programme were told by the Minister to prove their presence.

Furthermore he said that if people had misled the Minister by giving false information about their absence, those people would be produced in front of the three officials so that they could be slapped. (Daily Mirror online)


http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/5547-mervyn-ties-man-to-tree.html