Residents in Ratnapura are expressing alarm over accumulated garbage at the Sabaragamuwa Saman Devalaya, warning that the delay in waste removal following the annual Perahera festival could trigger a dengue outbreak in an already high-risk zone.
Four days after the conclusion of the annual Perahera festival at the historic Sabaragamuwa Saman Devalaya in Ratnapura, significant quantities of waste remain uncleared, prompting concerns from nearby residents about potential public health risks. According to local reports, the Ratnapura Municipal Council has failed to remove garbage that has accumulated around the temple premises, leading residents to question the authority's response to the situation.
The accumulation of waste has been compounded by recent heavy rainfall in the region, which has created pools of water in discarded plastic bottles, polythene bags, and other non-biodegradable materials scattered across the temple grounds. Residents have identified a particular problem with the temple's main drainage system, which they claim has been blocked by plastic waste and other debris, preventing proper water flow.
Local authorities have already designated the area as a high-risk zone for dengue transmission, according to the Ratnapura Municipal Council's health department. Residents worry that the presence of standing water in accumulated waste will accelerate mosquito breeding and substantially increase the likelihood of a dengue outbreak affecting the surrounding community. They have called on relevant authorities to prioritize immediate waste removal and drainage system clearing before the public health situation deteriorates further.
