The Sri Lankan Ministry of Health (MOH) has a National Plan for Cancer Prevention and Control (NCCP) and has developed a National Policy and Strategic Framework to implement the national cancer plan to prevent and control cancers. The MOH is investing resources in reorienting primary and secondary care personnel in cancer prevention and early detection of common cancers through in-service training programmes. The success of these programmes require well trained master trainers in the prevention and early detection of common cancers in Sri Lanka, who in turn will be used for the reorientation of primary and secondary care personnel. In this context, the Screening Group (SCR) at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO) has been requested to organize a 4-day training course on Cancer Early Detection and Control of breast, cervix, colorectal and oral cancers to generate a team of master trainers.