Opening a new chapter in regional health diplomacy, Sri Lanka has stepped into a prominent leadership role on the global health stage. Hon. Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, Deputy Minister of Health of Sri Lanka, chaired the three-day High-Level Preparatory (HLP) Meeting for the Seventy-ninth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia. The landmark meeting was held from 20 to 22 July 2026 at the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office in New Delhi, India, underscoring Sri Lanka's growing influence in shaping regional health policy and cooperation across the South-East Asia region.
Sri Lanka's Leadership in Regional Health Diplomacy
Sri Lanka's role in chairing this high-level preparatory meeting signals a significant reaffirmation of the country's commitment to multilateral health governance. By placing Deputy Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni at the helm of the proceedings, Sri Lanka demonstrated both political will and technical capacity to guide discussions that directly impact the health outcomes of billions of people across the South-East Asia region. This leadership position is not merely ceremonial — it carries with it the responsibility of steering critical agenda items, facilitating consensus among member states, and ensuring that the outcomes of the preparatory meeting align with the broader goals of the World Health Organization.
The WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia represents eleven member states, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka itself. These nations collectively face a diverse range of public health challenges, from communicable diseases and maternal health to non-communicable diseases and pandemic preparedness. Sri Lanka's chairmanship of the preparatory meeting placed it in a unique position to help shape the agenda for the full Regional Committee session, which serves as a key decision-making body for health priorities across the region.
What the High-Level Preparatory Meeting Covers
The High-Level Preparatory Meeting serves as a critical precursor to the formal session of the WHO Regional Committee. During the three-day gathering in New Delhi, delegates and senior health officials from member states reviewed draft resolutions, technical reports, and proposed agenda items that will be formally deliberated upon during the Seventy-ninth Session of the Regional Committee. The preparatory nature of the meeting allows member states to align their positions, raise concerns, and build consensus before the main committee convenes.
Key topics typically addressed at such meetings include regional strategies for disease surveillance and outbreak response, progress toward universal health coverage, mental health frameworks, climate change and health resilience, and the implementation of International Health Regulations. With global health systems still navigating the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and facing new emerging threats, the discussions held during this preparatory meeting carry significant weight for public health planning across South-East Asia.
Sri Lanka's Broader Commitment to Global Health Cooperation
Sri Lanka's active participation and leadership in WHO regional mechanisms reflects a broader national strategy to engage meaningfully with international health institutions. Despite facing its own domestic economic and health system challenges in recent years, Sri Lanka has consistently maintained its presence and voice within regional and global health forums. The country's health sector has a long-standing reputation for achieving strong health outcomes relative to its income level, particularly in areas such as maternal and child health, immunization coverage, and primary healthcare delivery.
By chairing the HLP Meeting, Sri Lanka not only advances its own diplomatic standing but also contributes to a more balanced and inclusive regional health dialogue. Smaller nations within the South-East Asia region benefit when a country like Sri Lanka takes an active leadership role, as it can help elevate concerns and priorities that might otherwise be overshadowed by larger member states. This kind of participatory leadership strengthens the overall effectiveness of the WHO regional framework.
The Significance of the WHO Regional Committee Session
The Seventy-ninth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia represents an important milestone in the organization's ongoing work across the region. Regional Committee sessions are held annually and serve as the supreme governing body of the WHO for the South-East Asia region. Decisions made at these sessions influence health policies, resource allocations, and strategic priorities that member states are expected to integrate into their national health plans.
The outcomes of the preparatory meeting chaired by Sri Lanka will directly inform the agenda and deliberations of the full committee session. This makes the HLP Meeting not just a procedural exercise, but a substantive policy-shaping event with real consequences for public health governance across eleven nations and their combined population of nearly two billion people.
Looking Ahead
As Sri Lanka continues to rebuild and strengthen its national institutions, its active role in international health diplomacy sends a positive signal to the region and the world. The chairmanship of the WHO South-East Asia preparatory meeting by Deputy Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni is a testament to Sri Lanka's enduring commitment to regional cooperation, multilateralism, and the collective pursuit of better health for all people across South-East Asia. The outcomes of this meeting are expected to lay a strong foundation for meaningful progress at the Seventy-ninth Session of the WHO Regional Committee.