Cleanliness is a public responsibility too!

Sri Lanka is once again in the grip of dengue. But this time, it is no longer just another seasonal warning. It has crossed into something far more serious.

By July 2026, more than 50 lives have already been lost and tens of thousands infected. The numbers continue to rise, particularly in high-density districts such as Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara. Hospitals are under pressure. And yet, the most troubling part is not the scale of the outbreak. It is the fact that we have seen this all before.

Dengue is not new to Sri Lanka. It has been part of our public health reality for decades. We know how it spreads. We know that the Aedes mosquito breeds in stagnant water. We know that poor waste management, blocked drains and neglected spaces create the perfect conditions for its spread. 

So why are we still reacting as if it’s a surprise?

There is, of course, a responsibility that lies with the state. Local councils in particular must take a hard look at their performance. Garbage piled up for days. Drains clogged with plastic and debris. Water collecting in abandoned lands. Construction sites left unchecked. They are part of daily life.

And this is where the problem begins. Local authorities cannot continue to operate in a reactive manner. Every year, we see the same pattern. When cases rise, there is urgency. But once the immediate threat fades, so does the effort.

This approach is not just ineffective. It is dangerous. 

Dengue control cannot be seasonal. It must be constant. Drains need to be cleaned before the rains begin. Waste must be collected on time. High-risk areas must be monitored regularly. There must also be accountability. When a particular area reports a spike in cases, the relevant local council should be able to explain why. But if we are honest, the blame does not lie only with the authorities.
The public, too, must accept responsibility.

Walk into many homes and gardens and the problem becomes clear. Buckets left uncovered. Flower pots filled with stagnant water. Roof gutters clogged with leaves. Discarded containers lying around after a rain. This is how dengue survives.

The mosquito does not need a canal or a marsh. It needs only a few centimetres of water. Keeping one’s surroundings clean is not simply a matter of personal choice. It is a civic duty.

We cannot expect municipal workers to enter every home and inspect every garden. That responsibility rests with individuals. A few minutes each week to clear stagnant water can make a difference. Yet, this basic discipline is often missing.

Public awareness campaigns are carried out regularly. The message is repeated year after year. But awareness without action achieves very little. 

This cycle must be broken.

Schools, workplaces and communities must become part of the solution. Children need to be taught that cleanliness is not optional. Offices must ensure their premises are properly maintained. Every dengue patient adds pressure to an already stretched healthcare system. Doctors and nurses are forced to manage increasing numbers with limited resources. Beds fill up quickly. Attention is diverted from other critical health needs. Sri Lanka has faced a severe dengue crisis before. The 2017 outbreak should have been a turning point. It exposed the weaknesses in our systems and highlighted the importance of sustained action. But nearly a decade later, we find ourselves dealing with the same issues.

That is the real failure.

This is no longer just about mosquitoes. It is about mindset. Local councils must do better. That is non-negotiable. Waste management, drainage and public sanitation cannot be treated as secondary concerns. But the public must also change. Blame alone will not solve this problem.

If we continue like this, the outcome is predictable. The numbers will rise. More lives will be lost.  But it does not have to be this way.

Dengue is not an unbeatable disease. But it will not disappear on its own. It requires consistent effort from both the state and the people.

The question is whether we are finally ready to act before the next outbreak, or whether we will once again wait until it is too late.