COLOMBO (Nov 6): Sri Lanka continues to report between 1,500 and 2,000 new leprosy cases every year, nearly three decades after officially eliminating the disease as a public health threat in 1995, Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said on Thursday.
Speaking at the National Leprosy Conference in Colombo, held under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Dr. Jayatissa said that around 10% of new infections occur among children under ten, underscoring the need for stronger prevention and surveillance.
He announced that the government has launched a structured programme to make Sri Lanka leprosy-free by 2035, with key priorities including early detection, improved hospital facilities, and rehabilitation support for patients living with disabilities.
The Minister also thanked the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Sasakawa Foundation for their continued support to Sri Lanka’s leprosy eradication efforts.
Dr. Jayatissa noted that about 40% of all new cases are reported from the Western Province, particularly Colombo District, followed by Batticaloa, Gampaha, Kurunegala, and Kalutara.
He said the government’s renewed focus aims to strengthen national health systems and community-level outreach to detect cases early and prevent transmission.
“This conference reflects our collective commitment to ending leprosy transmission in Sri Lanka. We are determined to make our country completely free of this ancient disease,” he said.