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by SHANIKA SRIYANANDA LIYANAGE

Colombo residents will get a 'green sticker' from the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) if their homes are free of mosquito breeding areas.

Every residence which is free of mosquito breeding spots will be declared a 'Green Star Home'. The Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) of the CMC will carry out inspections. The 'Green labelling system' was launched by the CMC in a bid to control the mosquito menace, especially to prevent dengue outbreaks.

Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam, Chief Medical Officer of the CMC, said that only one third of the houses in Colombo are free of mosquito breeding areas.The PHIs will look for mosquito-breeding areas, garbage dumps, over-grown bushes and trees and drains where mosquitos breed easily, before declaring a house a 'Green Star House'.

Dr. Kariyawasam said that there are 45,000 permanent dwellings in Colombo city and that during the past months over 25,000 houses have received the green sticker. "We have limited staff and need the help of volunteers to inspect these houses and issue the stickers", Dr. Kariyawasam said.

However, Dr. Kariyawasam said that this particular mosquito eradication programme has so far been a success since there was no increase in cases of dengue fever in 2001 compared to 2000. "Outside Colombo city limits, the dengue rate was 100 per cent higher last year than the previous year", he said.

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