Even as thousands fell victim to the dengue epidemic amidst a worsening garbage crisis, Sri Lanka’s health ministry appeared to be among the most ‘unhealthiest’ of places in the city, as dozens of bags with reeking garbage continued to pile up at the medical supplies division within the health ministry, an eyewitness told the Colombo Telegraph.
The medical supplies division which is located within the ministry of health on Deans Road, Colombo 10 is the main organisation responsible for providing all pharmaceuticals, surgical, laboratory and radioactive items for all government hospitals and other government healthcare institutions across the country. Sources pointed out that even though all medical supplies are stored in an enclosed area, having so much of garbage pile up next to this vital division is cause for concern.
The eyewitness said that the garbage has not been cleared for days, and the pile of reeking garbage continues to increase. The eyewitness also expressed his disgust over the government and health minister Rajitha Senaratne’s failure to take steps to clear the garbage from the health ministry, and especially next to the medical supplies division.
“Minister Rajitha Senaratne keeps boasting about taking steps to eradicate dengue from the country, but he can’t even clear up the garbage from his ministry,” the eyewitness lamented.
By mid this month, at least 227 people have been killed from the dengue epidemic, while at least several thousands have been infected, including children. The government has come under heavy criticism for letting the dengue epidemic spiral owing to its incompetence to sort out the worsening garbage crisis, with the government failing to take concrete steps to find a suitable alternative to dump garbage, since the Meethotamulla garbage dump collapse in April this year. The government’s failure to hold local government elections have also been cited as one reason which has contributed towards the increase in the dengue epidemic, as many residents complaint due to no proper officials at the municipal and urban councils, they are unable to even make a complaint when garbage collectors don’t come for weeks to homes and offices to collect garbage.
Funlover / July 14, 2017
The question for Colombo Telegraph, as much as for Citizens who wish the best for the country, is, what is your priority: to help ease the garbage disposal, or rub Rajitha’s nose in the garbage?
The sooner the attitude reflected in the Article is relegated to the garbage heap complained of, the better for the Country. Pay heed CT lest you soon find yourself in the garbage!
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Champa / July 15, 2017
Garbage?
I am worried about Commodore Dassanayake. (I came to know about him from WW today)
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Antonio / July 16, 2017
Funlover: Spoken like a true apologist for the powers that be!
Rubbing ” Rajitha’s nose in the garbage” sounds like a great idea, but not as great as drawing attention to the hypocrites that say they want Dengue to be eradicated whilst condoning politicians in their State-owned facilities that prove to be the greatest breeding places for mosquitoes.
Well done CT!
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The Oracle / July 14, 2017
What happened to the mosquito larva he was getting down from Australia to fight the dengue epidemic ? This man is a great story teller .
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AVB / July 14, 2017
Lot of us think responsibility of garbage cleaning of a ministry building lies on the executive minister… This is only in SL… What our brothers & sisters working in the ministry doing? All waiting for minister’s advice on how to fix this???? Haven’t we become very strange people? ………… Our 20~25 years old Moratuwa Campus students making street demonstration pressurising the Gov to clean their Campus surroundings.. Why can’t they do it instead of tiring street protest?? … Not only our political leaders, we all are corrupted… Unless we realise our wrongs and try to fix ourselves, the country won’t move forward…
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Words / July 14, 2017
RAJITHA is garbage!
No other words can explain him.
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Fatima / July 14, 2017
Pollution is cornerstone of Buddhism.
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shankar / July 14, 2017
now we know that the health minister is the culprit who has spread the dengue in colombo.
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max / July 14, 2017
Over to you the Chief Minister. Or to the Megapolice boss who now has the responsibility of garbage. But I am sure, Rajitha the babbler is safe. Just like his mega scams are not probed by FCID or any other anti corruption bodies.
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Good Sense / July 15, 2017
This only fortifies the general opinion that Sri Lankan politicians are a set of humbugs who takes the people for a ride to get their votes.
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Saro / July 15, 2017
The local councils must be responsible for disposing the rubbish.
The central government must allocate money to the local governments. The legislators must be concerned about civilians health and nations wealth more than importing luxury vehicles.
The doctors must treat the patients and worry less about private practice and the competition of privately educated counter parts.
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Spring Koha / July 15, 2017
Rajitha has shown time and again that he is all hot air, and not fit for purpose (like 70% of the ministers in office). Until ministers are appointed on merit (and not on the political clout they offer the Prez/PM) we will continue to court disaster upon disaster and ALL the people of this blessed island will suffer the consequences.
80% of our political henchmen couldn’t do a proper days work; they just suck up to their leaders and screw the public purse. The capable emigrate. THAT is the curse of Mother Lanka.
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Harishchandra / July 15, 2017
They do not want to eradicate dengue, all they want to do is create a shortage of ground water by by doing away with all the natural water conserving sources by warming up the environment to bring about a water tax which has been in the pipeline for a considerable period of time. If dengue is to be eradicated the patients should be isolated in an IDH hospital, The resources that were used up over more than ten years now could well have been used to construct a hospital to cater to the over 21 million population today and not depend on a hospital which was built when our population was around 6 million. This menace has seriously affected the Bio-diversity of our country, just look around for the bees, dragon flies, butterflies, fireflies, and groundworms and you will realize this.
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K.Pillai / July 15, 2017
The dengue cannot infect those who live in air-conditioned dwellings, travel in air-conditioned vehicles. The rich and the privileged do not suffer the pain of dengue so pay lip-service. For example Ranawaka when he was Minister of Power and Energy created quite a furore over an Indian nuclear plant. But on dengue he is very quiet.
The Meemtotamulla garbage collapse is forgotten now but dengue may last for a while unless decisive action is put in place. For a start streamline garbage collection. Do you hear us Rohitha?
SL may lose tourists.
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Perera / July 16, 2017
Rajitha, you are the person destroying this government. You need wife of your son get medical degree from SAITM. You are not fit. Better resign and do some business of selling degree with your friend Kiriella and Wijedasa. You are using the budget for giving loans to private compenies and earn money. People are not aware of these. Selling degree is a lucrative business. Next time no vote for Ranil who destroyed the education of the country .
Prof. perera
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shankar / July 17, 2017
my next door neighbour is now in hospital with dengue and maybe i’am going to follow suit anytime now.I told her that Dr.Dengue is the one who is spreading it in colombo instead of eradicating it and she asked me when is the next election.I told her i don’t know because they have postponed the LG elections indefinitely and this year she can’t vote because western province is not due for election.
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N .Wimaladasa / July 17, 2017
Where in the case of removed -chairman of BOI has to failure to delivered foreign-investments last 32 months since 2015 January 8th?
1 The UNP-SLFP of alliance that new investment policies has mess-up from the very inceptions. New
policies of investment has not identify New Capital market shifted from West to emerging Eastern Asia
by leaders of 2015 govt. That guide-line has not advocated UNP -Ranil Wicks. Upul Jayasooriya just a
lawyer has no knowledge new policy initiatives of global economy and not known idea of Sri Lankan’s
position as well.
2 The expect of investment policy initiatives of introducing necessary reforms to national economic has not guided to lawyer- Jaysooriya of BOI Chair by UNP hard-core leadership. As a lawyer Upul ..
lack environment by encouraging for investment and hence undertaking and implementations of
investment commitments as Chairman of BOI. Such was man-in charge lost give policy guidance to BOI.
3 Sri lanka after shifted of “Rainbow Revolution”2015 January 8th, Chinese funded projects has stop
by overnight decision of UNP Ranil short-sight investment policy of scale down China participations.
The slow progressive negotiation by UNP leadership investment lost growth of momentum national economy as whole
The failure of BOI of FDI investments is not lay by the Upale Jayasoorya only ,it has be accountability by hard-core leadership of UNP and their few UNP so-called think-tank advisers or consultancies.
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N .Wimaladasa / July 18, 2017
By this comment should goes BOI of Chairman – resign of Upual Jayasooriya comments……..
Hope mishap no way to redress by commenter.
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