The Public Health Inspectors Association has warned that the city of Kandy is at risk of spreading serious infectious diseases as the large crowds that have gathered for the Dalada pilgrimage have become unbearable. Expressing further views, the association’s president Upul Rohana pointed out that there is a risk of diseases such as diarrhea, dengue and chikungunya spreading among the people.
He pointed out that as a result of the lack of adequate toilet facilities for the large crowd, people on both sides of the Mahaweli River have been doing this and that serious environmental problems will arise through this. He said that some pilgrims are already suffering from fever and skin diseases, which increases the risk of spreading diseases.
About 1,000 oraganisetion had been given permission to serve food to pilgrims and steps had been taken to stop serving frozen milk and other beverages to minimize the risk of diarrhea.
The Kandy Municipal Council says that the amount of garbage collected in one day during the Dalada pilgrimage season is equivalent to the amount of garbage collected in a month within the city limits during normal times. The council has also pointed out that there is not enough space to properly dispose of such a large amount of garbage.