COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj on Monday urged parents to dress preschool children in clothing that covers their arms and legs to protect them from dengue-spreading mosquitoes.
Paulraj made the appeal during a media briefing at the Department of Government Information on National Early Childhood Week.
Her comments followed a recent decision by the Ministry of Education to allow schoolchildren to wear suitable clothing that covers their arms and legs as a precaution against dengue.
Paulraj said parents should extend the same protective measures to preschool children and dress them appropriately before sending them to preschool.
She also encouraged parents to use child-safe mosquito repellents where appropriate and take all possible precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
The minister said dengue remained a concern at educational institutions and warned that the next two weeks would be particularly critical.
Sri Lanka is currently witnessing a surge in dengue cases. As of July 12, the total number of cases reported in the country in 2026 had reached 68,672, with 47 deaths due to the disease. - Xinhua
