Sept 01, Colombo: Sri Lanka Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena today ceremoniously initiated the use of locally produced larvicide BTI bacteria to curb the dengue menace in suburbs of Colombo while First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa participated in a dengue eradication campaign in the Sri Lankan capital.

The bacteria were first used at the State Engineering Corporation workshop in Peliyagoda in the outskirts of Colombo city.

The Pesticides Registration Bureau has registered the locally manufactured BTI bacteria produced by Bio Power Lanka Company.

Bio Power Lanka that was contracted by the Industrial Technology Institute to produce the bacteria says it has stocked 10,000 liters. The company is licensed to produce the bacteria for five years.

Dengue epidemic has taken 206 lives so far this year while 28,733 have been affected by the mosquito-born disease in the island.