Women MPs to lead islandwide breast cancer early detection drive

Friday, 30 October 2026 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

An islandwide special national program to promote the early detection of breast cancer will be held on 2 November, 2026, led by the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus and the Ministry of Health.

The decision was taken at a recent Caucus meeting chaired by Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus Chairperson and Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj.

Ministry of Health officials told the meeting that about 6,000 new cases of breast cancer are reported in Sri Lanka annually and about 1,000 women die from the disease each year. Although breast cancer can be completely cured when detected early, delays in seeking treatment due to fear, embarrassment or a lack of awareness remain a major challenge, they said.

On 2 November, women MPs will organise health clinics and awareness programs at electorate and district level and take part directly. Women MPs and school and university students will also wear pink ribbons, wristbands and clothing to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Special attention will be given to encouraging women in rural communities, plantation areas, urban high-rise housing complexes and underserved areas to attend Suwanari Clinics. Only about 50% of women aged 35 to 45 currently attend these clinics.

A comprehensive program is planned for next year to refer all women aged 35 to 45 for screening, bringing together stakeholders, including women’s societies at Grama Niladhari division level. The meeting also discussed holding cervical cancer awareness programs in January, led by women MPs.

The meeting also took up gender-responsive budgeting, which means considering the impact on women and men when drawing up Budgets, and the care economy. It discussed obtaining technical advisory support to implement the National Care Policy and to incorporate gender-responsive policies into the budgetary process.

The meeting emphasised the need to expedite amendments to address shortcomings in laws on the prevention of domestic violence, maintenance and the prohibition of corporal punishment of children, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice.

Deputy Chairperson of Committees of Parliament and Caucus Deputy Co-Chairperson Hemali Weerasekara, MP Chamindrani Kiriella, several other women MPs, Ministry of Health officials and representatives of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) in Sri Lanka also took part.