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Sri Lanka’s rapidly rising burden of blood cancers has come into sharp focus with leading specialists warning that the country is being forced to treat thousands of patients each year with a critically limited number of haemato-oncologists.
Consultant haemato-oncologist Dr. Buddhika Cancer Hospital, Maharagama, has revealed that only four specialist doctors are currently available in Sri Lanka for the treatment of blood cancers and bone marrow transplant.
He said the extremely small specialist cadre stands in stark contrast to the growing number of patients being diagnosed annually.
Speaking at an awareness programme held in Colombo on the 16th, Dr. Somawardhana said that of the four specialists in the country, three, including himself, are based at the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama, while the remaining specialist serves at the Kandy National Hospital.
He also disclosed that between 15,000 and 18,000 cancer cases are reported annually in Sri Lanka, with around 1,500 to 2,000 patients diagnosed with blood cancers and conditions requiring complex treatment such as bone marrow transplantation.
In addition, he pointed out that around 5,400 blood cancer cases were recorded among 35,855 new cancer cases reported in 2022, underscoring the growing clinical burden on an already stretched system.
Consultant Haemato-Oncologist Dr. Buddhika Somawardhana speaking at the event
Dr. Somawardhana warned that the shortage of specialists is further compounded by the migration of experienced doctors, noting that around seven to eight haemato-oncology specialists, who previously served in the country, are now working overseas.
He said the shortage of both human resources and essential medicines has created major challenges in delivering sustained care, often forcing patients to seek advanced treatment abroad, particularly in India.
Health experts say the situation highlights a widening gap between demand and capacity in specialised cancer care, particularly for conditions such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, which require long-term, highly specialised management.
At the same event, Consultant Haemato-Oncologist at the Kandy Hospital, Dr. Nilupuli Goonerathne, stressed the importance of continuous post-treatment monitoring, warning that failure to maintain follow-up care could have life-threatening consequences.
She noted that patients often undergo treatment costing between Rs. 10 million and Rs. 20 million, but outcomes could be severely undermined if structured follow-up care is neglected.
“These patients have significantly weakened immunity and are highly vulnerable to infections and other complications. Follow-up care is not optional, it is essential,” she said, adding that such cases are increasingly being reported.
The awareness programme, organised by A-Mart Holdings, also focused on post-treatment safety and long-term recovery in bone marrow transplant patients, including infection prevention, lifestyle management and rehabilitation.
The event brought together local and international specialists, along with recovered patients, in an effort to improve public awareness of the challenges surrounding blood cancer treatment and post-transplant care.
Medical professionals have warned that unless urgent attention is paid to strengthening specialist capacity, Sri Lanka’s ability to manage its growing cancer burden could come under increasing strain in the years ahead.
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Leaders of the United States, China and Russia are set to hold an unprecedented three-way meeting next week, the White House has said.
US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China’s tech hub, the White House assistant press secretary confirmed in an announcement.
The talks will be held nine months after the last nuclear arms treaty between Washington and Moscow expired, leaving the world’s two countries with the largest atomic arsenals without caps for the first time in more than 50 years.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday said that kissing Kawanthissa, the deceased tusker, was worthier than kissing the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Speaking in Parliament, Premadasa criticised the Government’s relationship with international financial institutions, including the IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB), while raising concerns over the country’s poverty levels.
Referring to a 2025 World Bank report, he said 61.1% of Sri Lanka’s population was estimated to be living on less than US$8.30 a day in 2025.
Premadasa questioned the Government’s approach towards international financial institutions, saying the IMF, World Bank and ADB were among the institutions that the Government preferred to “kiss and hug”.
During his speech, he produced a document carrying a photograph of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya greeting the then IMF chief with an embrace.
“I shouldn’t be showing this against the Prime Minister, but here’s an image of you kissing. That’s fine; it’s the normal way of greeting someone,” he said.
Referring to criticism over his widely publicised gesture of kissing Kawanthissa, Premadasa said Government members had failed to understand the significance of the gesture.
He maintained that showing affection towards the deceased tusker was more meaningful and worthy than such gestures towards the IMF chief.
Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera and six others were remanded until November 26 by the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday over a confrontation at a protest site near the historic Ruwanwelisaya.
The seven suspects, including four Buddhist monks and three civilians, were arrested following a clash on Thursday (12) between two groups at the site.
They were produced before Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickramaratne on charges of assaulting and injuring Rajanganaye Saddharathana Thera and obstructing police duties.
Saddharathana Thera sustained head injuries during the confrontation and was admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.
The suspects had been staging a fast-unto-death protest near the Ruwanwelisaya in opposition to the proposed Anuradhapura Sacred City Development Plan and demanding the release of Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera.
Police said the group had continued the protest despite previous court orders to vacate the area.
The Chief Magistrate, who visited the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital to inspect the monks and civilians receiving treatment, ordered that all seven suspects undergo drug tests and that a report be submitted to court.
The Magistrate also ordered that a psychiatric medical report be obtained concerning Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera.Police Spokesperson ASP F.U. Wootler said two women were among the civilians arrested in connection with the incident.
The Magistrate further directed Anuradhapura Headquarters Police to produce Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera before the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court in connection with an arrest warrant issued after he failed to appear for a case there on November 11, and subsequently report back to the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court.
Police took the suspects into custody following the confrontation between the group led by Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera and another group led by Rajanganaye Saddharathana.
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