The Hon. (Ms.) Krishnan Kalaichelvi

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, we are gathered to discuss a disease that threatens women’s health worldwide but is curable if detected early. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In Sri Lanka, breast cancer is the most commonly recorded cancer among women—about 15 new cases daily, with around three deaths daily.

¶ 02 However, among hill-country women in my Nuwara Eliya District, awareness is inadequate. As Hon. Nizam Kariapper noted, the booklet provided today was not in Tamil. Despite the presence of many women’s and civil organizations, there is no targeted program for estate-sector women. Many there are now being affected.

¶ 03 We must create awareness in the estates—this is not an issue of shame, and it is curable. Representatives from hill-country areas should work with civil and women’s organizations to run programs, explain symptoms and risks, and encourage all women over 20 to perform self-exams. If we do this, we can curb this disease. Thank you.