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Around 10,000 Lankans die from diabetes annually

Around 10,000 Sri Lankans die from diabetes annually and another eight percent of the population receive treatment for diabetes, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.

He said earlier, diabetes was common only among adults, but nowadays, schoolchildren develop the disease. The issue poses a significant challenge for the entire health system of the country as health services have an extra burden due to the development.

He was addressing the Endocrine Congress 2016 in Colombo recently.

Minister Dr. Senaratne said 25 percent of Sri Lankans are over weight and another seven percent suffer from obesity.

The country needs to take action to prevent Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) caused by life style related negative changes.

The government will bring legislation to regulate fat and salt in food and beverages. About 842 Healthy Life Centres and 946 Well Women Clinics have been set up countrywide to offer the public free screening for NCDs and keep people healthy, the minister said.