Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to expanding equitable healthcare across the island at the inauguration of the 93rd Annual Scientific Session of the Sri Lanka Dental Association (SLDA) held at Cinnamon Life, Colombo.

The event highlighted the nation's commitment to advancing oral healthcare through scientific innovation, prevention, and inclusivity.

The Prime Minister opened the session by congratulating the student gold medalists, distinguished researchers, and scholarship recipients honoured at the event. She noted that these achievements reflect the dedication of Sri Lanka's academic institutions to fostering an evidence-based, innovation-driven healthcare workforce, according to the Prime Minister’s Media Division.

Commending the SLDA's legacy spanning more than nine decades, the Prime Minister praised the Association's longstanding role in promoting knowledge exchange, strengthening national collaboration, and upholding professional standards.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister emphasized that public health extends beyond hospital care, noting that good health begins with preventive lifestyle choices.

"Oral health is an important part of this journey," the Prime Minister stated. "A healthy smile is not only about having strong teeth; it is connected to good nutrition, a child's ability to learn, an adult's ability to work, and the overall wellbeing and dignity of every person."

Highlighting global data, she observed that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide. In Sri Lanka, significant challenges remain, including dental caries among children, widespread periodontal disease among adults, and the high prevalence of oral cancer among men, which is strongly associated with tobacco use, areca nut chewing, and betel quid consumption.

The Prime Minister reiterated the Government's firm commitment to strengthening a preventive healthcare framework aimed at reducing the national burden of non-communicable diseases. She noted that the Government will continue to build on successful initiatives, including school dental services and community-based healthcare programmes.

The Prime Minister also urged the medical community to embrace emerging technologies, strengthen indigenous research capabilities, and adapt international best practices to further enhance the country's public health system, it said.

She welcomed the increasing participation of women in the dental profession, emphasizing that greater representation should be accompanied by equal opportunities in specialist training, research, leadership, and decision-making roles.

The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, SLDA President Dr. Ananda Rathnayaka, and leading dental professionals, researchers, and academics.