Sri Lankan president orders urgent repairs to canals, drainage system to prevent infectious diseases

COLOMBO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake directed officials to immediately repair canals and the drainage system in Colombo, given rising dengue and chikungunya cases in the Colombo District, the President's Media Division (PMD) said in a statement on Wednesday.

These directions were given during a Wednesday meeting at the Presidential Secretariat with officials from the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, along with other relevant institutions, the PMD said.

The president questioned the officials about the inadequate maintenance of the canals and drainage system, and directed the Urban Development Authority to devise a plan that includes sustainable solutions for the improper disposal of waste and wastewater, the PMD said.

Around 20,000 cases of dengue have been reported in Sri Lanka so far this year, according to official data. There have also been reports of rising cases of chikungunya. Enditem