Dr Palitha Mahipala graduated in medicine and Surgery from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 1983 and obtained post-graduate specialization in community medicine from the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo in 1995. Dr Mahipala has also done his Doctor of Medicine in Medical Administration and Masters of Business Administration. He is a Fellow of the College of Medical Administrators, Sri Lanka.

Dr Mahipala started his career as Medical Officer at the divisional level in Sri Lanka in 1985, promoted to District Medical Officer in 1992 and then the Regional Director of Health Services from 1995. He served his country at the level of Director Tertiary Care Services, Deputy Director General Health Services, Additional Secretary Medical Services, and Director General of Health Services, at the National level and joined WHO South East Asian Region (SEAR) as Coordinator of the Non-communicable Diseases and Environmental Health in December 2016. 

He is a specialist in medical administration and qualified in the fields of public health,management, Business Administration and developmental economics.

Dr Mahipala has a diversified experience in the fields of Family Planning, Health and Population Services, Community Health Development, IDPs Care and Rehabilitation, Primary Eye Health Care, Hospital Development, Administration and Management. Dr Mahipala has been a visiting lecturer and examiner in post graduate institute of medicine Sri Lanka for M.Sc. and MD in medical administration.

He was a member of many advisory committees, medical boards, foundations, councils and associations and has numbers of publications to his credit. He has wide range of exposure and experience of participation, presentation and working at international forums. He has been the board member of the Global Fund in 2012 and 2013.

Dr Palitha Mahipala is assigned as WHO Head of Mission/Representative in Pakistan from 18 April 2019.