28–29 March 2019, Colombo — The Ninth South Asia Subregional Committee Meeting was held on 28–29 March 2019 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Government of Sri Lanka.

The Committee reviewed action points of the Eighth South Asia Subregional Committee Meeting and the 23rd Intergovernmental Meeting, and received a report on the outcomes of the 40th Steering Committee Meeting held on 18–19 March 2019.

National Focal Points of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka provided country presentations on main challenges and policy developments related to global change and sustainability in their countries and discussed possible strategies to effectively utilize and strengthen APN.

The Committee considered and approved five priority topics for the FY 2019 call for proposals of APN, which is to be launched in the second half of 2019. These topics will be announced in September upon final approval by the Steering Committee.

The Meeting also discussed plans for conducting a proposal developing training workshop in early 2020 and organizing a training workshop on climate projection targeting professionals working in national meteorological and hydrological services in South Asia.

Prior to the Ninth Subregional Committee meeting, the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Government of Sri Lanka, organized an inaugural session where the Hon. Mr Anura Dissanayake, Secretary, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Government of Sri Lanka, made an opening remark.

The Session was followed by a technical session on “Projected Climate Change, Potential Impacts and Associated Risks”, where experts from five APN member countries exchanged data, information, and best practices on projected climate change and its impacts on socio-economy. The two sessions were attended by APN members and 30 local participants.