Sri Lanka reaffirmed its leadership in regional health cooperation as Hon. Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, Deputy Minister of Health, chaired the three-day High-Level Preparatory (HLP) Meeting for the Seventy-ninth (79th) Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, held from 20 to 22 July 2026 at the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office in New Delhi.
The meeting was inaugurated by Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office, and brought together senior representatives from Member States to deliberate on key regional health priorities and build consensus ahead of the 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee.
The discussions focused on strengthening equitable access to specialised healthcare, accelerating progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), advancing the digital transformation of health systems, enhancing the resilience of health facilities, promoting multi-disease elimination, and intensifying regional efforts to end tuberculosis. The meeting was guided by the Banyan Framework for Health and Well-being (2026–2028), which sets the strategic direction for WHO's work across the South-East Asia Region.
Sri Lanka's delegation also included Dr. S. Sridharan, Deputy Director General (Planning), Ministry of Health.
Sri Lanka's role in chairing the preparatory meeting reflects the country's continued commitment to regional cooperation and multilateral engagement in advancing resilient, inclusive and people-centred health systems across South-East Asia.
High Commission of Sri Lanka
New Delhi
22 July 2026