WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination visits Sri Lanka to accelerate progress towards zero leprosy

Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress in reducing the burden of leprosy, achieving one of the country's notable public health successes. However, ongoing transmission in some communities and the persistence of stigma underscore the need for continued vigilance, investment and collective action towards a future free from leprosy, disability and discrimination.

Mr Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination and Honorary Chair of The Nippon Foundation, visited Sri Lanka from 11–12 June 2026  to reaffirm global support for the country’s efforts to interrupt leprosy transmission and achieve Zero Leprosy Sri Lanka by 2035. The visit brought together persons affected by leprosy, frontline health workers, public health officials, policymakers and development partners to strengthen collaboration, raise awareness and accelerate action.

For more than five decades, Mr Sasakawa has been a leading global advocate for the rights and dignity of persons affected by leprosy. Through his work with The Nippon Foundation and as WHO Goodwill Ambassador, he has championed efforts to eliminate both the disease and the stigma associated with it.

Mr Sasakawa, the Sasakawa Health Foundation (SHF) team,  WHO Sri Lanka and  WHO South-East Asia Regional Office team members, visiting a person affected by leprosy in Moratuwa in the Colombo District.

Sustaining progress while addressing remaining challenges

Sri Lanka achieved the WHO target for eliminating leprosy as a public health problem in 1995, reducing prevalence to below one case per 10,000 population. However, transmission continues in several parts of the country, requiring sustained investment in surveillance, early diagnosis, treatment and local outreach efforts.

In 2025, Sri Lanka detected 1,282 new leprosy cases, including 123 children, indicating ongoing transmission within communities. Nearly 10% of newly diagnosed patients presented with Grade 2 disabilities, highlighting delays in diagnosis and the need for greater community awareness and earlier case detection.

Although leprosy is curable and treatment is available free of charge through Sri Lanka’s public health system, many affected individuals continue to experience stigma, discrimination and social exclusion. Addressing these challenges is essential to achieving sustainable elimination.

A person affected by leprosy in Moratuwa, Colombo District.

The Anti-Leprosy Campaign (ALC) of the Ministry of Health leads Sri Lanka’s national response to leprosy, coordinating prevention, early detection and treatment services across the country. The programme provides technical guidance to district leprosy control teams, develops national policies and operational guidance, and oversees implementation of the National Strategic Plan for Leprosy. Since leprosy became a notifiable disease in 2013, the ALC has further strengthened surveillance and response systems, supporting timely case detection and management.

The Hendala Leprosy Hospital, which operates under the ALC, continues to provide specialized inpatient care for individuals requiring support to complete multidrug therapy or manage disease-related complications. Together, these efforts contribute to Sri Lanka’s progress towards a future free from leprosy, disability and stigma.

Listening to communities and frontline health workers

As a global advocate for leprosy elimination, Mr Sasakawa, together with representatives from WHO and the Sasakawa Health Foundation, visited the Medical Officer of Health area in Moratuwa, a high-burden area within Colombo District.  The delegation met persons affected by leprosy and their families and heard firsthand accounts of their experiences with diagnosis, treatment and social reintegration. Discussions highlighted fear of discrimination, delays in seeking care and gaps in public awareness.

The visit reinforced an important public health message: leprosy is preventable and curable, and treatment is available free of charge through Sri Lanka’s public health system. Early diagnosis and timely treatment help prevent disability, interrupt transmission and protect communities.

The delegation also met officials from the Anti-Leprosy Campaign, the Moratuwa Medical Officer of Health Office and Public Health Inspectors to review local epidemiological trends, surveillance data, contact screening and community outreach. Discussions focused on strengthening early case detection, improving treatment adherence and expanding efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination.

Mr Sasakawa speaks and engages with persons affected by leprosy at the Moratuwa Medical Officer of Health Office about access to treatment and awareness. 

High-level engagement reinforces national commitment

A key component of the visit was a high-level meeting with Hon. Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health and Mass Media, senior Ministry of Health officials, the Anti-Leprosy Campaign, WHO Sri Lanka and the Sasakawa Health Foundation.

Discussions focused on the future direction of Sri Lanka’s leprosy elimination programme, including stronger multisectoral collaboration, expanded community-based detection and contact screening, accelerated implementation of preventive approaches such as single-dose rifampicin post-exposure prophylaxis, and action to address stigma and discrimination.

Participants reviewed progress towards Sri Lanka’s goal of interrupting leprosy transmission by 2035 and emphasized the need for sustained investment in surveillance, disability prevention, community engagement and people-centred care.

Mr Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination reiterated:

"Achieving Zero Leprosy requires not only timely diagnosis and effective treatment, but also meaningful community participation, social inclusion, and strong partnerships. Sri Lanka has demonstrated its commitment to this goal, and continued collaboration will be critical to interrupt transmission and ensure that no one is left behind."

WHO goodwill ambassador, Mr Yohei Sasakawa meets Hon. Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health & Mass Media Sri Lanka to discuss the future direction of Sri Lanka’s leprosy elimination programme.

WHO support for leprosy elimination in Sri Lanka

WHO continues to support the Ministry of Health and the Anti-Leprosy Campaign through technical assistance, strategic guidance, capacity building, surveillance strengthening, development of national guidance and implementation of priority interventions aligned with the WHO Global Leprosy Strategy 2021–2030.

WHO's recent support has helped strengthen leprosy prevention and care through the development of national clinical guidance, introduction of post-exposure prophylaxis approaches, improved monitoring of medicine safety and antimicrobial resistance, and support for the development of Sri Lanka's National Strategic Plan for Leprosy Control 2026–2030.

The visit also highlighted the long-standing partnership between WHO, the Ministry of Health, the Anti-Leprosy Campaign and the Sasakawa Health Foundation. This collaboration has supported programme reviews, roadmap development,  and awareness campaigns, post-exposure prophylaxis, national guidelines, early case detection and targeted outreach in high-risk areas.

 A shared vision for zero leprosy

Mr Sasakawa, the Sasakawa Health Foundation team, WHO Sri Lanka, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office and national counterparts during the field visit. 

Reflecting on the significance of the visit, Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, emphasized the importance of sustaining momentum towards interruption of transmission and ensuring that every person affected by leprosy has access to timely diagnosis, quality treatment and people-centred care.

Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Sri Lanka highlighted:

“Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress in reducing the burden of leprosy, but our work is not yet complete. Achieving Zero Leprosy requires sustained commitment to early diagnosis, treatment, disability prevention, stigma reduction and people-centred approache. WHO remains committed to supporting the Ministry of Health, the Anti-Leprosy Campaign and our partners to accelerate progress towards interrupting transmission and ensuring that every person affected by leprosy receives timely, dignified and people-centred care.”

Mr Sasakawa’s visit reinforced that leprosy is not only a public health issue but also a matter of dignity, inclusion and human rights. Direct engagement with affected communities, frontline health workers, public health officials and policymakers maintained high-level attention on early diagnosis, complete treatment, disability prevention, social reintegration and action against stigma and discrimination.

As Sri Lanka advances towards its goal of interrupting leprosy transmission by 2035, sustained political commitment, strategic investment, strong surveillance systems and the meaningful involvement of persons affected by leprosy will remain critical. Together, these efforts can help create a future where no one experiences the disease, disability or stigma associated with leprosy. WHO will continue to support national partners in turning this vision of Zero Leprosy into reality.

The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of national and international partners to ensure that every person affected by leprosy is reached with timely care, treated with dignity and supported to live free from disease, disability and discrimination.