Sri Lanka, Aug. 21 -- Health experts have raised concern over the alarming rise of diabetes in Sri Lanka's Western Province, where one in every five people is now affected.

According to Specialist Dr. Manilka Sumanatilleke of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), the situation is largely attributed to excessive sugar consumption.

He revealed that, on average, Sri Lankans consume between 25 and 30 kilograms of sugar annually, while children alone take in as much as 20 teaspoons of sugar a day.

According to the SLMA, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure are now responsible for 80% of all deaths in the country. Alarmingly, doctors say these conditions are increasingly being detecte...