Sri Lanka marked a significant milestone in enhancing national readiness for chemical and biological emergencies during an intensive training and consultation week held from 23 to 27 February 2026. The programme brought together experts from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), military partners, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and national stakeholders, creating a unified platform for strengthening the country’s health emergency workforce.
The week commenced on 23 February with the National Reference Document Development Workshop on the Management of Health Response to Chemical Emergencies. Participants reviewed and refined draft reference documents for primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities, focusing on aligning national capabilities with international standards. A series of group sessions and expert‑led discussions enabled participants to analyse Sri Lanka’s current capacity, review hazard assessments, and outline actionable next steps.
On 24 February, a National Consultation on Strengthening Sri Lanka’s Health Emergency Workforce for Chemical and Biological Hazards was held. Sessions covered updates on Sri Lanka’s hazard profile, outcomes of preparedness assessments (SPAR, JEE), global and regional workforce strategies, and the presentation of a 5‑Year Roadmap for health emergency workforce development.
The formal Training Workshop unfolded from 25 to 27 February, offering participants both technical grounding and hands‑on learning. Day 1 focused on Technical Orientation, and sessions were led by experts covered hazard profiles, fundamentals of chemical and biological incident response, personal protective equipment (PPE) procedures, and staff protection measures. Practical segments on donning and doffing PPE ensured participants gained real‑world competencies essential for frontline response./countries/sri-lanka/cbrn-04.jpg?sfvrsn=3402b678_2 "CBRN-04") | /countries/sri-lanka/cbrn-02.jpg?sfvrsn=c14c30d3_2 "CBRN-02") |
Training Day 2 advanced into Applied Learning, with modules on detection and notification systems, taxonomies, preparedness for CBRNE events, decontamination operations, incident command systems, and national emergency procedures. Interactive group work allowed multidisciplinary teams to practice decision‑making processes in simulated scenarios.
The programme culminated on Training Day 3 with an immersive Tabletop Exercise. Participants engaged in a simulated chlorine gas leak incident, navigating situation briefings, coordinated response planning, multi‑sectoral communication, and a final debrief on lessons learned and workforce implications. WHO handed over essential CBRN equipment and PPE to
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the Ministry of Health for 6 tertiary hospitals renewing WHO’s commitment in strengthening operational readiness one step at a time.
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Throughout the week, the training reinforced Sri Lanka’s commitment to building a resilient, well‑equipped, and agile health emergency workforce capable of safeguarding communities against chemical and biological threats. By combining strategic planning, expert guidance, and practical skill‑building, the programme set a strong foundation for advancing national preparedness in line with global health security priorities.