sea of pink this Sunday as 1,148 participants from across the Eastern Province took part in the TLC Triathlon 2025, unified by the life-saving message: Touch · Look · Check. Organised by the Indira Cancer Trust in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the National Cancer Control Programme and the Sri Lanka Medical Association the event forms part of Sri Lanka’s first nationwide campaign against breast cancer awareness. Dr. Lanka Jayasuriya-Dissanayake, Chairperson of the Indira Cancer Trust, moved the crowd when she said, “These are not just numbers — behind every statistic is a woman, a life, a family. With early detection with TLC (Touch, Look, Check), every single one of them has a chance.”
Dr. Purnima Wimalaratne, Provincial Director of Health Services, Eastern Province, added: “When communities unite and spread the message of self-examination, we build a frontline of defense against breast cancer.” The event also saw support from health leadership at district level with the presence of the Regional Director of Health Services for Batticaloa, and various health teams. The highlight of the morning was the TLC Pledge, in which participants — children, parents, teachers, and athletes — placed their hands over their hearts and vowed to carry the life-saving message of encouraging self breast examination for all women above the age of 20 years into their homes. The triathlon segments — 200m swim, 5km cycle, and 1.25km run — were symbolic rather than competitive, allowing participants of all fitness levels to join.
Each participant carried the message in their pink T-shirt, medal, and number bib. The first aid service was supported by Sri Lanka Red Cross Society,Rotary International led interactive demonstrations at the tent area, children’s activities were hosted by Lions, and medals were distributed to every finishing team. This triumph in Batticaloa marks the second leg of the four-part national journey. Kilinochchi was first, and the series continues to Matara (19 October) and culminates in Colombo (26 October). Today, Batticaloa showed that awareness can move mountains. Every swim, cycle, and step carried a message — not just for ourselves, but for our mothers, sisters, daughters. The pink you see is not just colour — it is courage in motion. May each medal be a reminder, each T-shirt a conversation starter. Let this movement echo beyond October, across every home and every heart.
Information courtesy: Ranga Jayathilaka (Media Coordinator)
