The Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) is honoured to continue its long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, through the Lien Collaborative Programme – Phase 2, marking a significant milestone in the country’s palliative care journey.
APHN’s engagement in Sri Lanka began over a decade ago, with sustained master trainer development from 2014 to 2019, laying the foundations for national capacity building. The invitation from the Ministry of Health to embark on Phase 2 reflects both confidence in this partnership and recognition of the substantial progress achieved in strengthening Sri Lanka’s palliative care landscape.
Building on a Decade of Progress
Over the years, Sri Lanka has demonstrated remarkable commitment to integrating palliative care within its health system. A growing cohort of trained clinicians, supported by experienced national master trainers from Phase 1, has enabled the country to move decisively towards non-communicable disease (NCD) palliative care and community-based service development. Phase 2 of the Lien Collaborative Programme was therefore designed to consolidate clinical competencies, strengthen training capability, and prepare the next generation of leaders to scale services nationwide.
Curated Module 1 of Phase 2 Training
The training conducted from 10–14 November 2025, brought together 52 multidisciplinary healthcare professionals from eight provinces across Sri Lanka. Participants represented a wide range of institutions, including national and teaching hospitals, district and base hospitals, universities, professional associations, and key directorates within the Ministry of Health. This diverse national cohort reflected Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to strengthening palliative care capacity across all levels of the health system.
The programme was designed with the objective of consolidating foundational clinical competencies in palliative care while simultaneously strengthening participants’ capacity to train and mentor others using adult-learning methodologies. A key focus was the identification and development of potential future master trainers who can lead provincial-level education and service development. The training also aimed to establish a unified and practical framework for community-based palliative care aligned with Ministry of Health standards, while fostering a cohesive national network of clinicians committed to improving equitable access to palliative care.
Delivered over five intensive days, the curriculum adopted a blended learning approach that combined classroom teaching, small-group discussions, case-based learning, skills workshops, and bedside teaching.
Module 1 was delivered successfully, with high engagement, strong multidisciplinary participation, and clear evidence of growing confidence in both clinical practice and teaching skills. Participants demonstrated readiness to translate learning into service development and to support future provincial-level training. Importantly, the programme further strengthened collaboration between APHN and the Ministry of Health, anchoring palliative care firmly within national priorities.
With Gratitude to Our Faculty and Trainers
APHN extends its deepest appreciation to the volunteer international faculty, whose expertise and generosity made this programme possible:
- A/Prof Ghauri Aggarwal (Australia) – Faculty Lead
- Dr Jan Maree Davis (Australia)
- Prof Chia-Chin Lin (Hong Kong)
- Ms Angela Tan Gek Lya (Singapore)
We also warmly acknowledge the invaluable contribution of Sri Lanka’s Phase 1 Master Trainers, whose leadership, contextual knowledge, and dedication continue to drive local ownership and sustainability.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The successful completion of Phase 2 Module 1 marks not an endpoint, but a renewed beginning. With a strong national cohort and committed partners, Sri Lanka is well positioned to advance NCD and community palliative care at scale. APHN looks forward to returning in 2026 to continue Modules 2 and 3, deepen mentorship, and support Sri Lanka’s vision for a compassionate, integrated, and sustainable palliative care system.
Together, we move from training to transformation—ensuring that no one is left behind in access to quality palliative care.
Written by Mr Giam Cheong Leong (APHN Executive Director )
This project is a Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care initiative to build capacity in developing countries in Asia. The Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care was co-developed by the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) and the Lien Foundation.