Sri Lanka, Aug. 1 -- Cancer incidence in Sri Lanka is rising at an alarming rate due to a combination of aging population, unhealthy lifestyles, environmental pollution, and limited access to treatment in some provinces, said Dr. Nadarajah Jeyakumaran, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror, Dr. Jeyakumaran stated that the trend mirrors a global pattern, where improved life expectancy has led to a steady increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer.

Dr. Jeyakumaran pointed to a range of man-made causes accelerating the cancer burden.

"What we eat, drink, and inhale is increasingly harmful. Our food is adulterated with pesticides and ...