Colombo, Sri Lanka – October 2025
The 78th Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Committee concluded in Colombo with landmark commitments by Member States to accelerate progress toward “Health for All.”
The highlight of the three-day session was the Colombo Declaration on Healthy Ageing through Strengthened Primary Health Care, a first-of-its-kind regional commitment to enhance well-being among the ageing population — expected to double by 2050.
Member States also adopted key resolutions on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), public health emergencies, climate and health, migrant health, smokeless tobacco control, and Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems — reaffirming the region’s commitment to equitable and resilient healthcare systems.
Sri Lanka, as the host nation, was commended for its leadership in promoting equitable, people-centred healthcare and for advancing policies aligned with Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Regional Officer-in-Charge Dr. Catharina Boehme recognized outstanding public health achievements, including Maldives’ Triple Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B, HIV, and Syphilis — a global first.
In a move to foster youth participation, the Regional Youth Council for Health and Well-being was launched jointly by the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, and WHO South-East Asia.
The Colombo Declaration marks a defining step in positioning South-East Asia as a model for inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable health development.
Source:
World Health Organization – South-East Asia Regional Office (who.int/southeastasia)
Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka (health.gov.lk)
