Sri Lanka has been awarded recognition by the World Health Organization (WHO) for reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis to levels no longer considered a public health problem.The certificate was presented during the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus presented the award to Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa.

The Ministry of Health stated that the recognition is based on sustained national progress and adherence to WHO global standards.