The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council has decided to keep 14 schools closed in the Ratnapura District today (22) and tomorrow (23) at a meeting held yesterday considering the spread of dengue fever in the area.
The schools decided to be kept closed were St. Aloysious College, Mihindu Maha Vidyalaya, Dharmapala Maha Vidyalaya, Ferguson Girls High School, Sumana Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Prince College, St. Luke’s College, Seewali Maha Vidyalaya, Ratnapura Tamil Maha Vidyalaya, Al-Makkiyya Muslim Vidyalaya, Batugedara Vidyalaya, Batuhena Maha Vidyalaya, Ratnapura Convent and Godigamuwa Dharmaraja Vidyalaya.
Up to Monday (19), 40 dengue patients had been admitted to the Ratnapura General Hospital including 30 students from St. Aloysius College and 2 students of Fergusson Girls School, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital S.P.A.L. Ranaweera said at a meeting held at the Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat office.
With eighty patients admitted to the hospital after Monday, about 150 dengue patients were currently receiving treatment at the hospital, the medical superintendent said.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Minister of Social Services and Welfare, Ranjith Bandara said many dengue cases among students of schools in the town had been reported.
However 12 cases diagnosed as dengue patients are currently under medical treatment at the Ratnapura General Hospital, the health authorities said.
Programmes to clean up the school premises during the two holidays had been arranged, the Provincial Minister Ranjith Bandara added.
Meanwhile several more dengue patients have been reported from among the residents of Ratnapura Goodshed Road and Palliya Para.
The authorities have also decided to suspend tution classes during this period.
Provincial Education Minister Banu Munipriya, Ratnapura Mayor Kapila Abeyrathne, Chief Provincial Secretary J. Kularathna, Provincial Health Director Kapila Kannangara were also present at the meeting.
(Lasantha Niroshana Perera)
