ADB delegation meets President; pledges continued support

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Takafumi Kadono, along with a delegation, called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday and pledged continued support to develop Sri Lanka.

The discussions focused on the ADB’s ongoing commitment to support Sri Lanka’s economic and social development.

During the meeting, the ADB reaffirmed its dedication to continuing its projects in Sri Lanka, with particular emphasis on bolstering key sectors crucial to the nation’s recovery. Tourism was identified as a critical sector that holds immense potential for Sri Lanka’s economic growth. In this regard, the ADB assured further assistance in developing tourism infrastructure to harness the sector’s full potential.

President Dissanayake highlighted the importance of promoting tourism in the Northern Region, requesting the ADB’s specific support to develop this area. The ADB delegation expressed its willingness to collaborate and provide resources for this initiative.

Beyond tourism, the ADB also expressed keen interest in aiding the development of Sri Lanka’s energy sector, financial sector, and small-scale entrepreneurs, emphasising their role in fostering sustainable economic growth.

This continued collaboration between Sri Lanka and the ADB is expected to contribute significantly to the country’s long-term development and recovery efforts.

Kadono, ADB Country Operations Head Cholpon Mambetova, Senior Economics Officer Hasitha Wickremasinghe, Treasury and Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies Ministry Secretary K.M. Mahinda Siriwardana, Finance Ministry Director General D.A.P. Abesekara, and Finance Ministry Director Udeni Udugahapattuwa were present at this event.