World Cancer day is marked on the February 4 worldwide. Cancer is a critical health and human issue. Whilst we live in a time of great advancements in cancer prevention diagnosis and treatment, many people who seek cancer care encounter barriers in many ways. The new World Cancer theme, Close The Care Gap, is all about raising awareness of this equity gap that affects almost everyone, and is costing lives.  

The Sri Lanka Cancer Society will be conducting awareness programmes, special TV programmes, events and even a virtual Art Exhibition for an entire week from the 1st – 7th of February.  

 Established in 1948, The Sri Lanka Cancer Society (SLCS) is the foremost voluntary, non- government, non -profit organisation.  which supplements the work of the National Cancer Program. They are a member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Geneva & also a member of the Non Communicable Disease Alliance (NCD) Sri Lanka.  

To achieve their goals SLCS is involved in numerous activities. Working untiringly, continuously exchanging knowledge and strengthening understanding they unite empower and support patients and their families suffering from Cancer. Also they endeavor to increase knowledge and create awareness by educating the public. Opportunities are offered for rehabilitation and relief. Financial support too is given for under privileged cancer survivors. 

 Patients requiring long term treatment at the Apeksha Hospital are provided free accommodation at their Bandaranaike memorial Cancer Homes in Maharagama. It has 80 beds and 5 rooms. They also maintain a 34 bed Hospice for terminally ill patients on the adjacent premises. 

They also offer special services as “prevention is better than cure”. SLCS has Public Education officers who conduct awareness sessions seminars and discussions across the country. Special awareness sessions are also conducted by Doctors and other medical professionals for companies factories formal and informal establishments. Public education programmes are offered via Zoom MS Teams and Google. 

The Opportunity Shop (OP SHOP) is located at the Bullers Lane Head Office. It sells good quality items of new and nearly new used clothes shoes household items books CD’S and all things in between. 

The Sri Lanka cancer society welcomes donations. They look to sponsors & donors to assist them to carry forward their vision and mission. Without the generosity and empathy of all who have supported them this society would not have lasted for over ¾ ‘s of a century. There is a continuous need for volunteers. They can honour a survivor or a loved one lost to cancer by helping at the society. They can use their community connections and passion to help patient programmes.  Fundraise to end Breast Cancer and Oral Cancer. So many opportunities are available. Sometimes volunteering in person isn’t possible but they are confident that volunteers can participate virtually as well. 

Please contact the Sri Lanka Cancer Society Head 
Office at  
No. 37/25     Bullers Lane Colombo 7
Telephone – 011 - 2585279, 011 -2581700
Email - [email protected]                                                                                                           
Instagram -  sl_cancer_society
Face book -  www.slcs.lk