The Ministry of Health has disclosed a concerning increase in leprosy cases in Sri Lanka, with 1,550 cases being identified in 2023 alone.
According to Acting Director of the Anti-Leprosy Campaign Dr. Prasad Ranaweera, the Colombo district registered the highest number of cases, totaling 259, followed by 168 cases in the Gampaha district, 116 in the Kalutara district and 80 in the Kurunegala district during 2023.
The trend shows a gradual rise from 2019 with 1,660 cases, in comparison to 2023 with 1,550 cases, despite fluctuations in intervening years.
Furthermore, September 2023 alone witnessed the diagnosis of 175 leprosy patients.
However, Dr. Ranaweera emphasized that while the increase in reported cases may seem alarming, it reflects improved efforts to detect and identify previously unnoticed cases through targeted projects.
