Sri Lanka blames garbage pile-up for record dengue toll

Sri Lanka has suffered a record 200 deaths from dengue fever this year, the health minister said today, blaming a garbage disposal crisis in Colombo.

Rotting garbage has been piling up in many parts of the capital since the country's main rubbish tip collapsed in April, crushing dozens of homes and killing 32 people.

With nowhere to take the trash, municipal collection has drastically slowed and led to huge piles on the streets which authorities say are encouraging mosquito-breeding.

"The situation could get worse if we don't tackle the garbage problem quickly," Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne told

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)