Celebrations throughout the country included public lectures and community workshops.
By Dr. Ajantha Keshavaraj
World Brain Day 2025 was a proud and transformative moment for Sri Lanka. Under the leadership of the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists (ASN), in partnership with World Federation of Neurology (WFN), we delivered a comprehensive, inclusive, and culturally sensitive campaign that made “Brain Health for All Ages” a household message across our island nation of 23 million people.
Sri Lanka, with its rich cultural and linguistic diversity, responded with unity and enthusiasm to this year’s global call for brain health awareness. The ASN led the effort through four major regional events in the North, South, East, and West. These celebrations ensured that people from every province — regardless of language or background — could participate in and benefit from the campaign.
Each regional event brought together neurologists, general physicians, students, educators, and members of the public. We delivered public lectures, screenings, and community workshops, as well as direct engagement with local health authorities. The focus was on practical, preventive brain health strategies across all life stages, from child neurology to stroke, epilepsy, and healthy aging.
Our campaign extended beyond the lecture halls. Through a powerful national media strategy, ASN’s outreach included:
- Television broadcasts in Sinhala, Tamil, and English
- Radio interviews and health bulletins discussing brain health for all age groups
- A series of national newspaper articles, op-eds, and interviews with senior neurologists
- Digital content and educational videos made available on the ASN website
One highlight was a collection of short video messages from Sri Lanka’s leading neurology experts. These included key insights on topics such as:
- Epilepsy | Prof. Ranjanie Gamage
- Stroke Prevention | Dr. Gamini Pathirana
- Child Neurology | Prof. Jithangi Wanigasinghe
- Hypertension and Brain Health | Prof. T. Kumananypertension
- Broader Challenges and Opportunities in Neurology in Sri Lanka | Dr. Ajantha Keshavaraj
Together, these efforts formed a unified national campaign that not only celebrated World Brain Day but laid the foundation for year-round engagement in brain health.
We are proud of what we achieved in 2025 and are committed to doing even more in the years to come. Brain health for all is possible, and Sri Lanka stands ready to lead the way in our region. •
Dr. Ajantha Keshavaraj is president of the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists.
