He made these observation yesterday (29) at the Sri Lanka Foundation, participating to launch the National Policy on Cancer prevention and strategic plan.

He said that there had been reported 14.1 millions new cancer patients world-wide in year 2012 and 8.2 millions out of them had been died. It is expected a rise in this 14.1 millions up to 19.3 millions by 2025 and the died rate will be rised up to 13.2 millions.

He stating that in Sri Lanka the second major reason for the deaths by non communicable diseases is the cancer said men are mostly affected by oral cancer and women are by breast and the cervix cancers.

The budget for year 2016 have allocated Rs.2015 billions for the health sector and Rs.3070 millions out of that have been allocated for the treatment services of cancer patients. These steps by the government to minimize cancer disease such as increasing the tax for alcohol liquors and prohibiting the use of Asbestos roofing sheets have been admired by the WHO, he added.

He further said that this national policy was a next step for preventing cancer disease and all the possible efforts would be taken in next year by them to minimize the cancer disease.