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Ratmalana Railway workshop, dengue mosquito breeding ground

02 Feb 2012 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Health authorities have warned that the Ratmalana Railway workshop has been a breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes and that 80 dengue positive patients were reported from the area.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samanthika Mendis said two of the patients died and 14 others were still under treatment at the Kalutara General Hospital. She pointed out that it was a serious health hazard affecting a large population in the area but the relevant authorities of the Railways Department had not taken steps to destroy the mosquito breeding grounds despite her warnings.

The Ratmalana Railway workshop is located on a 200 acre land and is considered the largest workshop in the country.

The employees of the workshop said the officials wanted them to launch environmental promotion programmes after working hours but they were not in a position to engage in Shramadana campaigns after the day’s hard work. They said if the officials released them from duty for a couple hours they could have cleaned the workshop ground and the surrounding area.

However, the Chief Mechanical Engineer S. Abeywickrema said only 80 out of 2,500 workers had contracted dengue fever and that the cleaning of the workshop ground was an arduous task for which others should corporate with him.

“Health authorities who inspected the workshop grounds have warned us with legal action. Now action is being taken with the help of the employees to avert the danger,” he said. (Reka Tharanganie)

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Ratmalana Railway workshop, dengue mosquito breeding ground

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