Due to this situation, people are faced with a risk of an epidemic of rat fever and certain other diseases, warns veterinary surgeon Chamith Nanayakkara.

He is the president of a group of veterinary surgeons for the management of animal infestation.

Dr. Nanayakkara said uncontrolled killing of snakes that feed on rats is the cause for this increase in rat population.

This matter will be raised with the health ministry, he added.