Sri Lanka Health Alert: 1,282 Leprosy Cases Reported in 2025; 10% are School Children

By Lions Roar News Health & Public Safety Desk

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (Thursday, January 22, 2026) — Sri Lanka’s health authorities have issued a stark warning regarding a resurgence of leprosy across the island. Dr. Yasoma Weerasekera, Director of the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) and Community Health Specialist, revealed today that 1,282 new leprosy patients were identified during the year 2025.

Speaking at a media briefing held at the Health Promotion Bureau, Dr. Weerasekera highlighted alarming trends in the data, particularly the vulnerability of the younger population and delays in seeking medical attention.

📉 The Alarming Statistics

The 2025 data indicates that the disease is spreading within domestic and school environments, with many cases diagnosed only after significant physical damage has occurred.

• Impact on Children: Approximately 10% of all cases—totaling 123 patients—are school children under the age of 15. This suggests active transmission within communities.
• Permanent Disability: Crucially, 8% of the new patients had already developed permanent disabilities by the time they were officially diagnosed.
• Treatment Availability: Dr. Weerasekera emphasized that full treatment courses are available free of charge at all government hospitals across the country, with no shortages of medication reported.

⚠️ The “Delay” Dilemma

The primary hurdle facing health officials is not a lack of resources, but a delay in detection.

“We have established all necessary free treatment systems in government hospitals. There is no possibility of any delay in providing these treatments,” Dr. Weerasekera stated. “The issue is the delay in patients reporting to hospitals, Public Health Inspectors (PHIs), or health offices.”

Health experts urge the public to look for early signs, such as pale or reddish skin patches with a loss of sensation, and to seek immediate medical advice to prevent long-term disability.

📊 Sri Lanka Leprosy Data: 2025 Overview