Inclusive, community-based celebration prioritizes brain health across the life course.
By Dr. Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Dr. Ajantha Keshavaraj, and Dr. Jeewana Leelarathne
From left to right: Dr. Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Dr. Ajantha Keshavaraj, and Dr. Jeewana Leelarathne
The auditorium of Teaching Hospital Batticaloa in Sri Lanka became a vibrant platform for unified brain health advocacy as health care professionals and community members gathered to commemorate World Brain Day (WBD) 2025 under the global theme of “Brain Health for All Ages.”
Jointly organized by the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists (ASN) and the Batticaloa Medical Association, the event marked a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s commitment to equitable neurological care.
The faculty at Teaching Hospital Batticaloa, home of the city’s World Brain Day 2025 celebration.
This inspiring session brought together a diverse interprofessional group of consultants, physicians, nurses, allied health staff, and students who joined hands in a show of solidarity. This inclusive, community-based approach echoed the goals of the World Health Organizatiin (WHO) Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP), which emphasizes multisectoral collaboration and prioritization of brain health across the life course.
The event opened with a welcome from Prof. Viji Thirukumar, president of the Batticaloa Medical Association. It was followed by a special address by Prof. Tissa Wijeratne, co-chair of the World Brain Day campaign and trustee of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). Reflecting on 12 years of global advocacy, Prof. Wijeratne highlighted how World Brain Day has matured into a powerful movement for policy change, awareness, and action. “Brain health is a human right, across all ages, and all regions,” he said.
In a keynote titled “Silent Struggle: Understanding the Brain Health in Parkinson’s Disease,” Dr. Ajantha Keshavaraj, president of ASN and consultant neurologist, emphasized the invisible burden of neurodegenerative conditions and the importance of patient-centered, multidisciplinary care.
Scientific sessions explored critical topics. These included:
- Lifestyle Modification for Brain Health | Dr. K.T. Sundaresan
- Connecting Textbook to Practice | Dr. Ruchira Palliyaguruge
- Gut-Brain Interactions | Dr. V. Vijitharan
- Nurturing Brain Health from Early Life | Dr. Jeewana Leelarathne
- Aging Wisely | Dr. R. Kamalraj
The event concluded with an interactive discussion and strong consensus: Brain health is not just a medical issue; it is a societal imperative. The Batticaloa WBD 2025 commemoration stands as a historic example of how global vision can be translated into impactful local action, fully aligned with the principles of WHO-IGAP. •
Dr. Ruchira Palliyaguruge is acting consultant neurologist (TH Batticaloa), Dr. Ajantha Keshavaraj is president of ASN and consultant neurologist (TH Jaffna), and Dr. Jeewana Leelarathne is acting consultant pediatric neurologist (TH Batticaloa).
