ADB delegation pledges continued support for economic development

The Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Resident Mission in Sri Lanka, Takafumi Kadono, along with a delegation, met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions focused on 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, particularly bolstering key sectors crucial to the nation’s recovery.

Tourism was identified as a critical sector with 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 ADB’s specific support to develop this area.

The ADB delegation expressed 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, small-scale entrepreneurs, and the financial sector, emphasizing their role in fostering sustainable economic growth.

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

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