Minister of Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has been unanimously elected Chair of the inaugural BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Meeting, which commenced in Colombo today (11).

The meeting, held in Colombo, brings together health sector representatives from all seven member states of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

The participating countries are Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Thailand.

The meeting aims to strengthen regional cooperation in the health sector, with discussions focusing on public health security, disease prevention, preparedness and response to health emergencies, as well as the sharing of technical expertise and knowledge among member states.

Minister Jayatissa's unanimous election as Chair places Sri Lanka in a key position to guide discussions and promote collective action on regional health priorities, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health.

The appointment also follows a series of regional and international leadership roles held by the Minister.

He was elected Chair of the World Health Organization's (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Committee at its 78th session, held in Colombo in October 2025.

He was subsequently elected Vice-Chair of the Fifth Asia-Pacific Health Ministers’ Conference (UNESCAP MC-5), held in Bangkok, Thailand, in October 2026.

The inaugural BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Meeting is expected to provide a platform for member countries to strengthen collaboration and develop coordinated approaches to address shared public health challenges across the region.