Colombo: Sri Lanka is facing one of its worst dengue outbreaks in recent years, with more than 44,000 cases and 28 deaths reported since the beginning of 2026, placing increasing pressure on the country’s healthcare system.
According to the National Dengue Control Unit, dengue infections rose sharply from 5,651 cases in April to 10,638 cases during the first two weeks of June. Health officials attribute the surge to monsoon conditions, rapid urbanisation and environmental damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah, which left behind debris and stagnant water that created ideal mosquito breeding grounds.
More than half of the reported cases have been recorded in the western region, including 9,429 cases in Colombo. Eight other districts have each reported over 2,000 infections since January. The outbreak has claimed 28 lives, including five children.
Health authorities have warned that infections could continue rising over the next two weeks, potentially placing additional strain on public hospitals. Officials noted that if the current trend continues, the number of cases could approach the levels seen during the major dengue outbreak of 2019, when more than 105,000 infections were recorded nationwide.
To curb the spread of the disease, authorities have launched a nationwide cleanup campaign targeting schools, homes, construction sites and public buildings to eliminate mosquito breeding areas.
