A malaria awareness march was held yesterday (25) under the theme “Say No to Malaria,” organized by the National Malaria Campaign of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media. The march was led by Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry, and commenced from the Ministry’s premises, proceeding to Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo.
This event marked the 12th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s sustained malaria elimination and was part of the observance of World Malaria Day 2025. Despite the country’s successful elimination of malaria, travelers to endemic countries remain at risk, and the march aimed to raise awareness about preventive treatments and the importance of post-travel screenings.
After the walk, a public awareness session was held at Viharamahadevi Park, where Dr. Jasinghe explained the Ministry’s continued efforts to control and prevent malaria. He emphasized that both vector control and early detection and treatment are essential in eradicating the disease. He also highlighted the challenge of identifying imported malaria cases, comparing it to the difficulty of identifying terrorists, stressing the importance of proactive measures and scientific knowledge.
Dr. Prasanga Serasinghe, Director of the Malaria Control Campaign, noted that awareness programs are being conducted nationwide for World Malaria Day. Although Sri Lanka was declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization in 2016, recent cases have emerged among individuals who traveled abroad. In 2023, 62 malaria cases were recorded, 38 in 2024, and 14 cases have been reported so far in 2025. Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, body aches, and in severe cases, difficulty breathing.
The march was attended by key officials, including the Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, and various health specialists, as well as representatives from the International Organization for Migration and field staff.
