Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Sri Lanka's Health Minister elected Chair of inaugural BIMSTEC health forum
Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has been elected to chair the first-ever meeting of BIMSTEC health ministers, marking a significant step in regional health cooperation among South and Southeast Asian nations.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Minister Jayatissa's election to the chairmanship underscores Sri Lanka's growing role in coordinating health initiatives across the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), which comprises seven member states in South and Southeast Asia.
The inaugural BIMSTEC Health Ministers' meeting represents a milestone in formalizing health sector collaboration among the bloc's member nations. As chair, Minister Jayatissa will be responsible for steering regional discussions on critical health issues affecting the BIMSTEC region.
The establishment of this health ministers' forum signals the member states' commitment to addressing shared public health challenges and strengthening cooperation in areas including disease prevention, health emergencies, and capacity building.
The BIMSTEC grouping includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The new health coordination mechanism is expected to facilitate knowledge exchange and coordinated responses to regional health priorities.