The Public Health Inspectors’ (PHI) Union of Sri Lanka has withdrawn from all dengue control duties across the country with effect from Thursday, in protest against a transfer at the Bandaranaike International Airport Health Office.
Union General Secretary Chamil Muthukuda said the decision was taken by the union’s executive committee at a meeting held on Wednesday night. The union has also decided to stage an island-wide token strike on Friday.
The transfer at the centre of the dispute
Ada Derana and Daily Mirror both describe the trigger as the “arbitrary” transfer of the senior-most Medical Officer of Health attached to the airport health office at Katunayake. Hiru News reported the union’s grievance as transfers imposed on its officers who had disclosed irregularities and corruption at that office.
The union’s statement on Wednesday referred to an officer who had given evidence to the Health Ministry’s Investigation Unit about alleged fraud at the airport health office, and said the transfer breached established administrative procedure. None of the three outlets named the transferred official.
Muthukuda said further decisions on continuing the trade union action would be taken based on the authorities’ response. No response from the Health Ministry was reported.
Why it matters
Public Health Inspectors carry out the frontline work of Sri Lanka’s dengue control programme — larval surveys, premises inspections and source reduction in homes, schools and construction sites. Their withdrawal removes the routine field capacity that keeps mosquito breeding in check, and the effect is felt at district level within days.
The action comes during a heavy dengue year. NewsFirst reported on Wednesday that more than 92,000 cases and 69 deaths had been recorded so far in 2026.
Airport health office staff handle health screening and quarantine clearance for arriving passengers, a function that sits alongside Customs and Immigration at the country’s main international gateway.
