Sri Lanka has recorded 91,692 dengue cases so far this year, the National Dengue Control Unit said.
Unit Director Dr. Kapila Kannangara said there has been a slight decline in the number of cases reported in recent days.
He warned, however, that case numbers could rise again with the coming North East monsoon season, and health authorities stressed the need for continued public vigilance and preventive action.
Roughly 2,600 more cases in a week
The figure marks an increase of about 2,650 cases on the 89,033 reported on August 8, when the death toll stood at 64.
Update, August 16: 92,011 cases and 68 deaths
The case count rose to 92,011 the following day, NewsFirst reported, and the National Dengue Control Unit put the dengue-related death toll at 68 — four higher than the total last reported on August 8.
The Western Province continues to account for the highest number of cases, and 119 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions remain classified as high risk, the unit said.
Dr. Kannangara said case numbers have been declining gradually day by day over recent weeks, but repeated that close attention will be needed as the Northeast Monsoon sets in. Prevention campaigns are running across 63 MOH divisions in 12 districts, with the public urged to treat dengue control as a shared responsibility.
Health authorities also warned that developing El Niño conditions and the possibility of unseasonal rainfall could create new mosquito breeding sites and raise transmission risk.
The year-to-date total has climbed steadily through 2026, from 85,364 at the start of August and 88,000 by August 6.
Update, August 17: 92,254 cases, with Gampaha worst affected
A total of 6,914 dengue cases have been reported in August so far, taking the year-to-date total to 92,254, Ada Derana reported citing the latest National Dengue Control Unit data. The death toll remained at 68.
The figures give the first district breakdown of the year’s caseload:
| District | Cases in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Gampaha | 19,671 |
| Colombo | 18,289 |
| Kandy | 6,635 |
| Matara | 6,040 |
| Kalutara | 5,964 |
| Galle | 5,063 |
| Ratnapura | 4,946 |
Gampaha and Colombo together account for roughly 41% of all cases recorded nationally this year, consistent with the unit’s assessment that the Western Province carries the heaviest burden.
Why the monsoon matters
The North East monsoon typically brings rain to the northern and eastern parts of the country from around December, and standing water left by rainfall creates the container habitats in which Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breed. Case counts in Sri Lanka have historically risen in the weeks following the onset of monsoon rains.
The warning comes during a prolonged dry spell that has affected more than 68,000 people across four districts and pushed reservoir storage to 37% of capacity. Water storage practices during shortages can themselves create breeding sites if containers are left uncovered.
The control unit has run a series of campaigns this year, including a two-year eradication programme announced earlier this month.
