This circular is in addition to the department’s announcement dated 17″ July 2012, on implementation of the enhanced strategy for further reducing the disease burden due to leprosy in Sri Lanka.

It has been noticed that the new case detection rates are increasing gradually from 2009 and the Multibacillary (infective type of leprosy) rate also has increased from 35% in 2001 to 49o » in 2012. Furthermore high rate of Child leprosy cases around 9 — 10% indicates the presence of active transmission of the disease in the community. The grade 2 deformity rate which is 7- 8% in Sri Lanka is also considerably high compared to other leprosy prevailing countries in the region. In addition Anti Leprosy Campaign has been identified that very high rate of defaulters and poor compliance as major challenges.