Sri Lanka is facing a dangerous surge in cancer cases as experts warn that poor diets, rising obesity, polluted air, and limited treatment access are fueling a nationwide health crisis. Top oncologist Dr. Nadarajah Jeyakumaran explains the alarming trends and what must change to save lives.
Cancer is rising at an alarming rate in Sri Lanka, driven by an aging population, lifestyle changes, environmental pollution, and gaps in access to treatment across several provinces, warns Dr. Nadarajah Jeyakumaran, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama.
In an exclusive interview, Dr. Jeyakumaran said the island’s cancer trend reflects a global pattern, where improved life expectancy and sedentary lifestyles have resulted in higher rates of non-communicable diseases, including cancer.
“What we consume and breathe daily is becoming more toxic,” he cautioned. “Our food is contaminated with pesticides and additives. The air is filled with dust, microplastics, and industrial waste, particularly in city environments. Even drinking water is unsafe due to excess fertilizer runoff containing high nitrate levels.”
He emphasized that Sri Lanka’s diet and lack of exercise, especially among children and adolescents, are critical factors. “Kids are glued to screens instead of playing outdoors. School is followed by tuition classes, with no time for physical activity. Obesity is a direct result, and obesity drives cancer.”
Among men, oropharyngeal cancers, affecting the mouth and throat are most prevalent, caused primarily by betel chewing, tobacco, smoking, and alcohol use. “Even with regulations in place, smoking rates are still climbing in rural and working-class communities,” he added.
In women, breast cancer remains the most diagnosed, followed by thyroid cancer. “Over-diagnosis has played a role in rising thyroid cancer numbers. Even small lumps are aggressively investigated, often leading to detection of cancers that might not progress,” he noted.
Cervical cancer, previously the second most common among women, has seen a decline thanks to enhanced screening and early detection efforts. Yet colorectal cancer has become the third most common cancer for both men and women, a shift Dr. Jeyakumaran attributes to diet changes, high-fat food, and sedentary lifestyles. “This is a western-style cancer creeping into rural areas due to changing habits and rising obesity,” he warned.
On cancer treatment, he acknowledged that Sri Lanka has made progress. “Most regions now have access to surgery and chemotherapy. We’ve trained specialist cancer surgeons nationwide. But delays in medicine procurement still cause shortages.”
Radiotherapy access, however, remains unequal. Only five provinces Western, Northern, Eastern, Southern, and North Central currently have radiotherapy machines. “Uva and Sabaragamuwa are still without facilities, and even in existing locations, machines often break down, creating long wait times,” he said.
The Health Ministry has plans to install new radiotherapy units in Maharagama and Galle to ease pressure on overloaded facilities.
“Cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence,” Dr. Jeyakumaran stressed. “If people avoid known risk factors, eat healthily, stay active, and go for regular checkups, most cancers are treatable or even preventable. But if they wait too long, all we can offer is palliative care. Prevention and early detection are critical.”
