The World Health Assembly (WHA)-based Stakeholder Consultation and Global Health Diplomacy Workshop for Sri Lankan health professionals – 2026 was held on 07-08 May 2026 in Colombo. The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), in preparation for the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA79), taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 18 to 23 May 2026.
The two-day workshop brought together more than 60 officials from various departments and units of the Ministry of Health, and aimed to strengthen national capacity for informed, strategic and coordinated participation in global health governance processes.
/countries/sri-lanka/group-photo---ghd-workshop-sri-lanka-2026.jpg?sfvrsn=55bbc1e6_5 "Group photo of workshop participants, along with senior officials of Ministry of Health, WHO Representative to Sri Lanka and WHO technical staff.")
Image 1 – Group photo of workshop participants, along with senior officials of Ministry of Health, WHO Representative to Sri Lanka and WHO technical staff.
Global Health Diplomacy plays a critical role in shaping how countries engage in international health negotiations and decision-making processes, including the World Health Assembly, the supreme decision-making body of WHO. Recognizing this, the workshop focused on building a practical understanding of WHA structures, agenda-setting processes and priority thematic areas, while strengthening the skills required to effectively articulate national positions.
The programme included sessions on the foundations of Global Health Diplomacy (GHD), an overview of WHA structures and procedures, and discussions on priority agenda items for WHA79 relevant to Sri Lanka. Experienced national experts shared practical insights on drafting and delivering effective country interventions, drawing on past engagement in WHA processes. Participants also engaged in facilitated group work to review and refine draft interventions aligned with national priorities and global commitments.
/countries/sri-lanka/wr-at-ghd-workshop-srilanka-2026.jpeg?sfvrsn=fb14a962_5 "WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav speaking at the Global Health Diplomacy Workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka.")
Image 2 - WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav speaking at the Global Health Diplomacy Workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Joining the workshop, Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, provided an overview of WHO’s key governing bodies. The presentation highlighted the importance of the World Health Assembly as the primary forum for Member States to shape global health policies, negotiate resolutions and influence international health priorities. It also provided an overview of WHA79, including its structure, core agenda items and relevance to Sri Lanka.
Dr Samuel Reuben, Programme Area Manager, Country Preparedness and International Health Regulations, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), delivered a virtual presentation on the WHO Pandemic Agreement and on the establishment of a pathogen access and benefit-sharing system. The WHO technical team played an active role throughout the workshop providing continuous technical support to group discussions and participant presentations. This hands-on engagement supported participants in linking global policy discussions with national health priorities and translating technical content into clear and policy-relevant interventions.
/countries/sri-lanka/participants-ghd-workshop-srilanka-2026.jpeg?sfvrsn=75692923_6 "Participants engaging in discussions at the Global Health Diplomacy Workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka.")
Image 3 - Participants engaging in discussions at the Global Health Diplomacy Workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Importantly, this workshop forms part of an ongoing national capacity-building effort. Similar WHO-supported stakeholder consultations have been conducted in previous years, both in preparation for the World Health Assembly and the WHO Regional Committee. These efforts reflect Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to strengthening its engagement in global and regional health diplomacy and have contributed to building a cadre of professionals with practical experience in global health negotiations and policy dialogue.
The initiative supports strengthened representation of Sri Lanka in multilateral health forums through structured preparation, shared understanding and coordinated review of national positions. It also contributes to aligning global health commitments with national priorities.
WHO remains committed to working closely with the Ministry of Health and national stakeholders to further strengthen Sri Lanka’s capacity in Global Health Diplomacy, supporting effective participation in international health governance processes that advance health equity, resilience, and sustainable development.