The Presidential Taskforce on Dengue will hold its inaugural meeting this evening (25 May) to discuss and put in place a comprehensive dengue control campaign.

This is the first time that a Presidential Taskforce is established to control dengue.

Sri Lanka's dengue control program was earlier limited to a few days or weeks. Under the new initiative, the dengue control program will be carried out countrywide throughout the year with the coordination of the Health, Defence, Environment, Education, and Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministries.

The Taskforce will pay special attention to the most affected 65 Divisional Secretariat divisions in the 15 districts. The Health Minister and the Deputy Minister will directly take part in the dengue control campaign in these areas.

Five committees (the National Committee, Provincial Committee, District committee, Divisional Secretariat division level committees and Grama Niladari level committees) will be set up from National Level, to grass roots level before June 5, the World Environment Day, to control dengue.