The Fourth SAARC Ministerial Conference on Children was held in Colombo on 10th July 2009. The Conference inaugurated by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka and chaired by Prof. Wiswa Warnapala, Minister of Higher Education of Sri Lanka, deliberated on several key issues pertaining to children. The Conference also adopted the "Colombo Statement on Children of South Asia".

The Third Meeting of the SAARC Working Group on Biotechnology was held in Colombo on 4-5 June 2009. The Meeting was inaugurated by Hon.Professor Tissa Vitarana, Minister of Science and Technology at Hotel Galadari on 4 June. Welcoming all delegates from SAARC Member States,Prof. Vitarana stressed that biotechnology has a crucial role for the overall socio-economic development of the region and underlined the importance of bridging the technology gap that is vital for meaningful socio-economic development by harnessing the potential of biotechnology in the region. The Minister called for devising aregional approach to biotechnology and stressed the need to work together collectively. The SAARC Secretary General was represented at the Meeting by Mr. Pema Dorji, Director of the SAARC Secretariat. Thisis the first time that the Working Group met since Sri Lanka assumed its Chairmanship in January 2009.