Around 21 percent of Sri Lankans died of ischemic heart disease (coronary heart disease) in 2015, according to a study conducted on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), Injuries and Risk Factors.

Coronary heart disease has been identified as one of the top five causes of death in Sri Lanka, alongside cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, asthma and self-harm. Reasons for the increased numbers were concluded to be obesity, high blood sugar levels, and alcohol and drug abuse.

While Sri Lankan female life expectancy had increased from 78 years in 2005 to 81.2 years last year, that of men had risen from 70.1 years to 74.1 years.