Colombo (LNW): Dr. Palitha Mahipala, former Director General of Health Services, officially took on the role of Secretary to the Ministry of Health today (20).
He succeeds Janaka Sri Chandragupta, who retired from state service yesterday.
Dr. Mahipala previously served as the Additional Secretary of Health and Deputy Director of General Public Health Services.
He is qualified in the field of public health, health sector management, business administration and economic development, and is recognised as a prominent figure in the medical sector.
Dr. Mahipala is well known amongst the Sri Lankan LGBTQIA+ community for his groundbreaking intervention in 2016 for the introduction of the Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), which is the key component allowing people of transgender identities to legally change their gender in Sri Lanka.
