158th Session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization
Statement by Sri Lanka
Agenda Item 13: Report of the Expert Advisory Group on the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel
Thank you, Mr. Chair,
Sri Lanka welcomes the report of the Expert Advisory Group on the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel presented by the Director General.
Sri Lanka, which provides free education and free health services for all its citizens, concerned on the high mobility of health professionals abroad. It affects the country in providing better health services to its people, especially during emergency periods. Further, we have had to bear significant financial losses after investing in producing our own health professionals.
Sri Lanka emphasizes that the establishment of co-investment in health workforce development and health system in the source country is essential in order to support health sustainability in both source and destination countries.
Sri Lanka calls for effective and invigorated implementation of the WHO code for international recruitment of health personnel for safeguarding the global health security.
Thank you
158th Session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization
Statement by Sri Lanka, 02 February 2026
Agenda Item 10: Primary Healthcare
Thank you, Mr. Chair,
Sri Lanka takes positive note of the report by the Director-General on Primary healthcare. We appreciate the activities, initiatives and efforts carried out and made by the WHO in collaboration with other partners to advance universal health coverage, with primary healthcare - oriented reforms as the cornerstone.
158th Session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization
Statement by Sri Lanka, 02 February 2026
Agenda Item 06: Follow-up to the political declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases
Thank you, Mr. Chair,
Sri Lanka takes note of the report by the Director General.
Sri Lanka insists that early investment in prevention and treatment measures on NCD should be continued and delivery of quality primary health care should be further strengthened.
Further, we emphasize that awareness and outreach, including through education, on physical activity and oral health should be expanded among communities, for better understanding on the importance of well-being.
Mr. Chair,
With regard to the proposed draft resolutions, Sri Lanka is pleased to co-sponsor the draft resolution on ‘Global Action to Advance Health Equity for People with Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders’, which received cross regional support. Sri Lanka thanks the leaderships of Armenia and Morocco.
At present, about 500,000 individuals are living with Hemophilia globally and about 1500 of these individuals are in Sri Lanka. According to the Annual global survey 2024 by the World Federation of Hemophilia, in Sri Lanka, children under 13 years show a high percentage of disorders with Hemophilia A and B.
Sri Lanka acknowledges that at present, there is no definitive care for Hemophilia and significant innovations are introduced to treat them. The lack of diagnosis and lack of data pose challenges in identifying and taking necessary measures to treat people with Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.
Sri Lanka joins with others and requests the Executive Board to endorse this important resolution by consensus, with a view to advancing the health equity for people with Hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.
Thank you
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Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol, and Head of Sri Lanka´s delegation to the COP11 of the FCTC, Dr. Ananda Rathnayaka, highlighted Sri Lanka’s achievements including the challenges faced and lessons learned in implementing the FCTC in the Sri Lanka at a side-event titled ‘Success Stories in Tobacco Control: Lessons Learned from FCTC Policy Implementation’ organized by the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control, on 20 November 2025.
The side event was held on the margins of the COP11 of the WHO FCTC, being held from 17-22 November 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. The side event also showcased the success stories from Mexico, and Ghana
Statement by Dr. Ananda Rathnayaka, Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) at the General Debate of the Eleventh Session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (COP11) on 18 November 2025
Madam President, Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Guests,
Thank you very much for the opportunity,
Sri Lanka was the first country in our region to ratify and sign the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Since then, we have remained steadfast in upholding its principles and values, guided by the convention that protecting our people from the harms of tobacco is essential to securing a healthy planet and a healthy future for generations to come.
Hon. Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Health and Mass Media paid a courtesy call on Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization on 20 May 2025.
During the meeting the main challenges in the country's health sector especially in Primary Health Care, aging population, Non-Communicable Diseases, workforce migration and local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and WHO’s support and cooperation in addressing those challenges were discussed.
Thank you Mr. President,
I congratulate you on your election as the President of this Assembly.
Sri Lanka appreciates DG’s report, timely theme “One World for Health” which is an opportune agenda for Sri Lanka and whole Global Community.
We have faced many challenges during the past half century and recovering from recent economic turmoil with the strength of the public together with global goodwill and assistance. As a country, we appreciate the connectedness, opportunities and health benefits that united Global action enablers.
Our government policy “A thriving nation: a beautiful life” is also aligned with “One world for health”, and the need for concerted action to be back on track on the SDGs.
Mr. President,
Sri Lanka had Out Patient Department visits of 3 times of its population in 2023, therefore to “leave no one behind”, we have embarked on “comprehensive primary health care reforms”. The main objective of this reform is to prevent bypassing of primary health institutions which is a challenge in health service delivery in Sri Lanka.
I stress the need to address the concerns due to health workforce migration affecting global health. During the years 2022 to 2025, 726-Consultants and 1,116- Medical Officers have gone abroad.
Sri Lanka has had to bear significant financial losses after investing to produce our own health professionals. We believe destination countries too need to be more responsible and we call for effective and invigorated implementation of the WHO code for International recruitment of Health personnel.
Achieving Sustainable Financing for Health requires increased investment in health, especially to build resilience against challenges we are presently facing: debt, disease & devaluation. Whilst we collaborate across sectors and disciplines our Government is committed to protect the nation’s health.
I look forward to the insightful deliberations of honoured delegates and welcome strengthening of One World for Health.
Ayubowan - May you live long. Thank you
- Statement delivered by Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, at the plenary of the 37th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting held on 17th May 2025
- 156th session of Executive Board: Statement by Sri Lanka under Agenda Item 13 - Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034
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