The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa - Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, this Parliamentary initiative is very important. Many Members and staff have donned pink and the awareness ribbons today, signalling that the Sri Lankan Parliament and its staff stand with the people to raise breast cancer awareness beyond this month, influencing policy and legislation.

¶ 02 Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancers, account for about 83–85% of deaths in Sri Lanka. We diagnose about 100 new cancer patients daily—around 33,000 annually. Of these, roughly 10–15 per day are breast cancers. Often, patients present at advanced stages.

¶ 03 We have invested in treatment—each new linear accelerator costs about Rs. 600–850 million. We have contracted for five more machines to arrive in four to five months. Still, as the Minister of Women and Child Affairs noted, premature deaths under age 70 remain significant.

¶ 04 The top cancers here are: oral cancer among men, and breast and cervical cancers among women. Considering the health, economic, family and social impacts, early detection is crucial. The most powerful tool is early diagnosis. Programs like self-breast examination and clinic-based screening at Suwanari and Suwa Divi clinics can markedly improve awareness and detection.

¶ 05 As part of our new Government’s plan, we are establishing Arogya Health and Wellness Centres—each serving 5,000–10,000 people across clusters of four to five GN divisions within a 3 km radius—piloted in 52 districts. Each centre will have a Public Health Nursing Officer responsible for registering the catchment population and initiating screening for diabetes, hypertension, and importantly, cancer. With a defined population under active follow-up, we can systematically screen and detect early.

¶ 06 Next, we will ensure timely referral for diagnostics—mammography and ultrasound—and then treatment: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy, escalating through secondary and tertiary care as needed. Over the coming years, this pathway should reduce daily new cancer diagnoses, prevent progression to advanced stages, and return patients to healthy lives.

¶ 07 Our National Health Policy 2026–2035 prioritizes cancer control, including breast cancer—reducing incidence and ensuring timely treatment. Our 10-year Strategic Master Plan will operationalize proactive outreach—health teams reaching the people faster than they may seek care themselves.

¶ 08 Through these measures, we aim to prevent illness and death from NCDs, and to mitigate the burden on families affected. I thank the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and the National Cancer Control Programme for leading this vital awareness effort.