<ul><li>NDCU awaits amendments to remove court warrant requirement&nbsp;</li><li>Cases surpass 59,000 as special control operation begins in WP</li></ul> The National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) is awaiting amendments to the Prevention of Mosquito Breeding Act No. 11 of 2007, particularly due to existing legal provisions that require health officials to obtain a Magistrate's court warrant before entering certain private premises to inspect suspected mosquito breeding sites when consent is refused. Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (5), Acting NDCU Director, Dr Kapila Kannangara said the amendments to the Act had been proposed prior to his assumption of duties, but had since remained on hold and are only now being revisited by the Ministry of Health.He explained that under the current provisions of the Act, special permission from court is required to enter certain premises to inspect for mosquito breeding sites. He said that this has created practical difficulties for health officials carrying out routine house-to-house inspections.Citing field experience, he noted that obtaining court approval often slows down operations, particularly during large-scale inspections in residential areas. He added that this provision, along with several other clauses in the Act, is expected to be amended, although the draft legislation is still pending with the Ministry. The Prevention of Mosquito Breeding Act was enacted by Parliament in 2007 during the tenure of then Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, as part of a wider legal framework introduced to strengthen dengue prevention and mosquito control efforts in Sri Lanka. The legislation was designed to empower health authorities to inspect premises, eliminate mosquito breeding sites, and take legal action against non-compliance.Sources privy to the matter told The Daily Morning that under the Act, Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and authorised officers were granted powers to enter premises for inspection purposes, although entry to private residences required written consent from the owner or, in cases of refusal, a Magistrate’s court warrant.They said that since its enactment, successive Governments had moved to strengthen the law further resulting in Cabinet approved proposals to enhance enforcement powers under the Act in 2012.&nbsp;Later, in 2017, under then Health Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne,&nbsp; Cabinet directed officials to draft amendments aimed at addressing “deficiencies and shortcomings” in implementation and improving the effectiveness of mosquito control operations. Meanwhile, the number of dengue cases reported in Sri Lanka so far this year has exceeded 59,000, prompting the Government to launch a special dengue control programme covering 23 high-risk zones in the Western Province from yesterday.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the NDCU, a total of 59,638 dengue cases have been reported during the year. The highest number of infections was recorded in June, when 21,546 cases were reported. During the first four days of July alone, another 4,251 cases have been identified. The Western Province continues to record the highest number of infections, with 31,249 cases. The Southern Province has reported 9,507 cases, followed by the Sabaragamuwa Province with 5,172 cases.In response to the rising number of infections, the Government has decided to conduct a special dengue control operation covering 23 high-risk areas across the Western Province. The programme will be carried out in Maharagama, Kaduwela, Homagama, Gothatuwa, Battaramulla, Piliyandala and the Colombo Municipal Council area in the Colombo District. In the Gampaha District, operations will cover Biyagama, Kelaniya, Seeduwa, Ja-Ela, Mahara, Wattala, Negombo and Minuwangoda. In the Kalutara District, the programme will be implemented in Panadura, Bandaragama, Horana, Ingiriya and Kalutara. It will be carried out with the participation of the health authorities, the Tri-Forces, the Police, District Secretariats, Divisional Secretariats, local government institutions, voluntary organisations and several other State and community representatives. A National Dengue Operations Centre has also been established to provide accurate, reliable and timely information to the public, journalists, Government officials and volunteers engaged in dengue control activities. Additional Secretary of the Clean Sri Lanka programme S.P.C. Sugishwara requested members of the public to report mosquito breeding sites by calling 011-7966366. The Operations Centre will function from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. from Monday to Friday, and from 8.00 a.m. until 12 noon on Saturdays. The hotline may be used to obtain information on the spread of dengue, report mosquito breeding sites, lodge complaints, obtain official information for media reporting and provide guidance to Government officials and volunteers involved in dengue prevention activities. Furthermore, a discussion on the national dengue control programme was also held today under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the President. The meeting reviewed measures already implemented to control the outbreak and discussed further action planned under the joint initiative involving the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Defence, the Tri-Forces, the Police and the Ministry of Mass Media.&nbsp;

Dengue crackdown hits legal snag 

<ul><li>Some stage rooftop protest as Police and STF deployed</li><li>Prison rights group blames overcrowding, staff shortages and untreated drug addiction&nbsp;</li></ul> Two inmates were killed and 29 others injured in a clash between rival groups at the Negombo Prison yesterday (5), prompting authorities to tighten security.&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates the violence was sparked by the exposure of a drug trafficking operation inside the prison.&nbsp;When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday evening, the Police Media Division stated that the clash had left two inmates dead and 29 injured.&nbsp;Two of the seriously injured inmates were later transferred to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo for further treatment.Hospital sources stated that 10 of the injured inmates were due to undergo surgery at the Negombo Hospital, while the remaining injured prisoners continue to receive treatment there.Following the violence, a group of female inmates and several other prisoners climbed onto the prison roof and launched a protest.Police and the Police Special Task Force have been deployed to the prison to bring the situation under control and strengthen security around the premises.Authorities are continuing investigations into the incident.Meanwhile, when contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (5), President of the Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP), attorney-at-law Senaka Perera, said that the unrest at Negombo Prison reflects long-standing problems within Sri Lanka's prison system, particularly severe overcrowding, staff shortages and the lack of rehabilitation for drug-dependent inmates.He said overcrowding has reached a point where even access to basic facilities, including washrooms, has become a source of tension among prisoners. "There is competition even to use the washrooms. When people are forced to live under such conditions, the possibility of conflict naturally increases. That could also be one of the reasons behind this situation."Perera said that the number of prison officers was also inadequate, making it difficult to properly manage inmates and carry out routine duties. "The number of officers on duty is far below what is required. Because of that, some responsibilities may not be carried out effectively. What we have today is a prison system that is in a dilapidated state, and ultimately it is the people who suffer."He also said that around 65 per cent of the prison population consists of people with drug addiction, claiming that many require treatment rather than incarceration. "These individuals need medical care, not imprisonment. If they are directed towards treatment and rehabilitation, it would also help ease overcrowding in prisons."Multiple attempts to contact Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, Prisons Spokesperson A C Gajanayaka, and Police Spokesperson and Assistant Superintendent of Police F U Wootler proved futile.&nbsp;

Negombo Prison Unrest: Clash leaves two dead, 29 injured

<ul><li>FUTA claims last cadre revision done in 2017</li></ul> Sri Lanka’s university system is currently operating with only around 6,900 lecturers despite requiring nearly 14,000 academic staff, the Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) claimed, warning that the shortage is affecting the quality of higher education as student numbers continue to rise.Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (5), FUTA President Prof Prageeth Weerathunga said universities are running at a lecturer availability level of more than 50 per cent below the required cadre, with staffing levels not revised since 2017. “In 2015, the number of students enrolled was 25,000. Now 50,000 is taken as a batch. In a year, within a university, there are around 190,000 students. But since 2017, a cadre revision has not happened. According to the teacher-student ratio that should be maintained, there should be around 14,000 lecturers, but there are only 6,900 lecturers. And even among them, a considerable number are leaving the country annually,” he said.He said that the shortage is being driven largely by academic migration, particularly among senior lecturers and professors with PhDs and long years of experience, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, where overseas opportunities are more attractive. "Salary structure and taxation are also among key factors that push academics to leave. Usually, other government workers do not have their salary curtailed to have a pension. When they retire, they get a separate allowance as a pension. But for us, it is a contributory fund - it is by curtailing our salary that we get the pension. Hence, when the rest of the salary is further curtailed for scholarships and other necessities inside the university, the remainder is not enough to maintain a satisfactory lifestyle."Speaking further, he said that around 1,250 lecturers have left the country in recent years, with STEM-related fields seeing the highest outflow. He added that recruitment is becoming increasingly difficult as fewer qualified scholars are willing to accept local academic posts due to better opportunities abroad. He also said that several facilities previously available to academic staff have been reduced over time. “Back then we had a car permit. Now we don't receive that either,” he said.

Unis operate with less than 50% lecturers?

Amid claims that inadequate garbage collection by some Local Government (LG) institutions has contributed to the recent rise in dengue cases, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government stated that local authorities facing resource shortages must formally notify the Ministry so that appropriate action could be taken.During the past few weeks, several local authorities have come under criticism over waste collection and solid waste management.&nbsp;Speaking to The Daily Morning, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government S Aloka Bandara said the issue was not widespread. "It is not a general issue. If there are problems regarding garbage collection, they should be confined to only a few local authorities." He said that the Ministry steps in at policy level when necessary, but stressed that local authorities must first communicate any operational difficulties. "If there are resource issues or shortcomings, they must inform the Ministry. We cannot act on assumptions. On the other hand, management is also about working with available resources. We do not have unlimited resources."

Garbage collection: LG bodies must inform resource shortages: Ministry 

<ul><li>Say separate fare structures for long- and short-distance services will create confusion</li></ul> The Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) claimed the proposed annual bus fare revision, which came into effect since yesterday (5) midnight, is a distortion of the fare policy, charging the Government had deliberately failed to regulate fares in a fair and consistent manner.LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne said that more than 10,000 buses are engaged in short-distance services across the country, while around 3,000 buses operate on long-distance routes.He said that introducing two different fare structures for these services would place an unnecessary burden on passengers and create confusion.Wijeratne also questioned what would happen to the proposed 12 per cent fare increase for short-distance services if diesel prices continue to decline in the coming months.He said that even if fuel prices are reduced further, it would become impossible to lower fares for short-distance services under the proposed system.The National Transport Commission has approved a 20 per cent fare increase for long-distance bus services under the annual fare revision.

Private bus operators slam fare revision

<ul><li>Warns of intensified climate risks including droughts, floods and food security pressures&nbsp;</li></ul>A discussion between climate and economic experts and Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa on the potential impact of El Niño and La Niña conditions on Sri Lanka was held yesterday (5) at the Opposition Leader's Office in Colombo.&nbsp;During the discussion, Premadasa invited the experts to share their assessments and recommendations on how Sri Lanka should prepare for potential climate disruptions linked to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) patterns. He said that the insights would be presented to Parliament and integrated into the national policy agenda through the Climate Change Parliamentary Caucus.He noted that evidence-based decision-making was essential for shaping long-term national resilience strategies and said that the Opposition intended to engage constructively on climate-related policy challenges. Premadasa, who also serves as Co-Chair of the Climate Change Parliamentary Caucus, said that similar engagements would continue in the future and invited the participating experts to contribute to the caucus’ ongoing work.Explaining the ENSO system, Premadasa said that El Niño and La Niña are climate patterns driven by changes in sea surface temperatures and atmospheric pressure in the Pacific Ocean. He noted that El Niño conditions are associated with unusually warm ocean temperatures, while La Niña brings cooler-than-average conditions, both of which significantly influence global weather systems.He warned that these climate shifts can trigger droughts, floods, heatwaves, reduced agricultural output and water shortages. He also recalled the severe global disruptions linked to major El Niño events in 1982, 1997–1998 and 2015–2016. Experts at the meeting noted that meteorological forecasts have pointed to the possibility of a stronger El Niño event in the coming period, which could push global temperatures to record levels in 2026 or 2027. Premadasa further highlighted the risk this poses to global food security, noting that staple crops such as rice, wheat, maize and soybeans account for nearly 60 per cent of global caloric intake. Any disruption in production, he said, could drive food price inflation and economic instability.He added that developing countries face additional challenges due to limited infrastructure, financing capacity and technology access, stressing the need to strengthen climate resilience and preparedness.

El Niño and La Niña: Opposition meets experts to discuss potential impact

A few showers are expected across parts of the country during the next 36 hours, while strong winds and rough seas are forecast in several coastal areas, the Department of Meteorology stated yesterday (5).Showers are expected in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western Provinces, as well as the Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts.Strong winds of 40-50 kilometres per hour (kmph) are likely at times over the western slopes of the Central Hills and in the Northern, North Central and North-Western Provinces, together with the Ratnapura, Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.At sea, south-westerly winds of 30-40 kmph are expected. Wind speeds could increase to 55-65 kmph in the sea areas from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota. Elsewhere around the island, winds may strengthen up to 50 kmph at times.The sea off the coasts stretching from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be very rough at times, while other sea areas are expected to be fairly rough.Wave heights of between 2 and 2.5 metres are also expected in the sea areas extending from Chilaw to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota.The Department advised fishing and naval communities to exercise caution due to the prevailing sea conditions.

Weather: Strong winds to continue; rough seas expected  

<ul><li>Ministry mulls policy changes</li></ul> The Ministry of Labour stated that there is a growing trend of younger employees moving between jobs more frequently rather than staying in one post for long periods, and that authorities are exploring ways to respond to job security-related issues linked to this trend.Speaking to The Daily Morning, Ministry Secretary S M Piyatissa said that the pattern is something seen in several countries, with both advantages and challenges for labour systems and long-term workforce planning. "Although long-term service in one institution has traditionally been encouraged, frequent job movement can also bring benefits by allowing workers to build experience across different environments. When we shared international knowledge with countries like India, they suggested introducing laws and regulations tailored to these young employees, in line with this tendency." He further said that discussions with Indian experts have pointed to systems where short-term employment contracts are being used more widely. "At present, employees in Sri Lanka generally need five years of service in a single institution to qualify for gratuity. Under proposed adjustments being discussed, even employees completing four-year contracts would receive a proportionate benefit." Speaking further, Piyatissa said that certain sectors still depend on long-term experience, particularly technical roles such as machine operators in factories. However, he noted that structured training systems could be introduced to bring new employees into such positions. “What usually happens is that after training and recruitment, no further training takes place as the person continues in the job. But globally, there is now an emphasis on lifelong learning. We are also conducting district-level programmes recognising this need.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Job mobility trend among youth under review

Police have recovered the missing service firearm of the Officer-in-Charge of the Traffic Division at Yatiyantota Police Station during a search operation carried out near the Yatiyantota bridge. The recovery was made following an underwater inspection conducted by the Police Marine and Diving Division. The firearm had gone missing on 27 June while the officer was on duty, prompting his arrest in connection with the incident. Following his arrest, the officer was produced before the Ruwanwella Magistrate’s Court and remanded until further proceedings. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the firearm are continuing.

Dengue crackdown hits legal snag

Negombo Prison Unrest: Clash leaves two dead, 29 injured

Negombo Prison Unrest: Clash l ...

Unis operate with less than 50% lecturers?

Unis operate with less than 50 ...

Garbage collection: LG bodies must inform resource shortages: Ministry ...

Garbage collection: LG bodies ...

Private bus operators slam fare revision

Private bus operators slam far ...

El Niño and La Niña: Opposition meets experts to discuss potential imp ...

El Niño and La Niña: Oppositio ...

Weather: Strong winds to continue; rough seas expected

Weather: Strong winds to conti ...

Job mobility trend among youth under review

Job mobility trend among youth ...

Traffic OIC’s missing firearm recovered

Traffic OIC’s missing firearm ...

Negombo Prison Unrest: Clash leaves two dead, 29 injured

Negombo Prison Unrest: Clash l ...

Unis operate with less than 50% lecturers?

Unis operate with less than 50 ...

Garbage collection: LG bodies must inform resource shortages: Ministry ...

Garbage collection: LG bodies ...

Private bus operators slam fare revision

Private bus operators slam far ...

El Niño and La Niña: Opposition meets experts to discuss potential imp ...

El Niño and La Niña: Oppositio ...

Weather: Strong winds to continue; rough seas expected

Weather: Strong winds to conti ...

Job mobility trend among youth under review

Job mobility trend among youth ...

Traffic OIC’s missing firearm recovered

Traffic OIC’s missing firearm ...

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Weather: Strong winds to continue; rough seas expected

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