Abstract Aims We aimed to provide an overview of cancer burden in Sri Lanka including incidence, prevalence and mortality rates in 2018 by age groups. Methods We used the data from GLOBOCAN 2018 which provided worldwide estimates of cancer incidence, prevalence and mortality for each country and regions. Results Highest prevalence in both sexes (total = 56,054) in Sri Lanka included cancers of the breast (n = 9,534, 87.5/100,000 population), lip and oral cavity (n = 5,904, 28.2/100,000), thyroid (n = 4,387, 20.9/100,000), colorectum (n = 3,634, 17.3/100,000) and leukaemia (n = 3,234, 15.4/100,000), respectively. In males, the highest incidence was reported for lip and oral cavity, lung and oesophageal cancers and in females, breast, uterine cervix, thyroid and ovarian cancers. Cancers causing highest mortality among Sri Lankan males included lung, lip and oral cavity, oesophagus and leukaemia and in females, breast, uterine cervix, leukaemia and ovary. Conclusions The burden of cancer is increasing in Sri Lanka which is probably related to changing cancer risk factor profiles and rapidly aging population. New innovative strategies for prevention, early detection and improving the quality cancer treatment is essential to deal with this effectively.