The epidemiological trend of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kegalle district, Sri Lanka: A newly established disease focus and assessment of bioclimatic suitability for disease establishment using ecological niche modelling

•School students and those between 11 and 20 years of age were the main risk groups.•Composting sites and abandoned lands in the surrounding were the main risk factors.•Areas closer to intermediate-zone are more suitable for leishmaniasis.•Phlebotomus argentipes and sergentomyia zeylanica were the most common species of sand flies in the area.