World Brain Day in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province featured speeches from leading medical personnel as well as healthy activities for attendees.
By Dr. Ajantha Keshavaraj
World Brain Day was celebrated with a major public health campaign in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province for the first time, marking a watershed moment in national efforts to promote “Brain Health for All Ages.” The event, hosted on May 25, 2025, in Jaffna, was organized by the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists (ASN) in partnership with the Northern Stroke Awareness Campaign. Activities were closely aligned with the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) for neurological disorders.
The centerpiece of the celebration was a simultaneous Stroke Awareness Walk and Marathon Relay, attracting more than 600 participants. The event unified children, professional athletes, patients, health and education professionals, military and police personnel, and local communities in a powerful display of solidarity and commitment to preventive brain health.
The 2 km Stroke Awareness Walk featured individuals living with diabetes, cardiac disease, and stroke survivors. They were joined by hospital directors, health officials, and families. In parallel, a 27 km Marathon Relay brought together schoolchildren, university athletes, and professional runners from across the province. These physical activities were not only symbolic but served to educate and empower communities to adopt healthier lifestyles, reducing the burden of stroke and other neurological disorders.
The event was further amplified by live national media coverage from Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and Dan TV, ensuring broad visibility and public engagement. A press conference, jointly convened by the Ministries of Health and Education, underscored the power of intersectoral collaboration and set a precedent for unified action in health promotion.
Keynote speeches were delivered by Dr. Ajantha Keshavaraj, ASN president, Dr. T. Sathiyamoorthy, director of Teaching Hospital Jaffna, and Dr. Saman Pathirana, provincial director of Health Services. They addressed the burden of brain disorders in the region, highlighting conditions such as hemorrhagic stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. They called for urgent preventive and early intervention strategies.
This historic World Brain Day celebration in Jaffna has set a national benchmark. It is a compelling reminder that brain health is a shared responsibility, and such inclusive, community-driven events are essential to building health equity, resilience, and awareness across all regions of Sri Lanka. •
Dr. Ajantha Keshavaraj is president of the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists (ASN).
