PM Amarasuriya meets ADB officials in Manila

Colombo, March 11 (Daily Mirror) - Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met senior officials of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at its headquarters in Manila, Philippines, yesterday (March 10), to discuss strengthening development cooperation between Sri Lanka and the multilateral lender.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, discussions focused on reviewing ongoing ADB-funded projects in Sri Lanka and exploring new opportunities for collaboration in key development sectors.

During her visit, the Prime Minister first met ADB President Masato Kanda, where both sides reaffirmed the long-standing partnership between Sri Lanka and the Asian Development Bank. 

President Kanda welcomed the Prime Minister’s visit and commended Sri Lanka’s efforts to stabilise the economy and advance recovery following the recent economic crisis.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya expressed Sri Lanka’s appreciation for the continued support extended by the ADB, including assistance provided in response to the impacts of Cyclone Ditwah and the Bank’s broader development cooperation with the country. She highlighted the importance of ADB-supported initiatives in several sectors that contribute to Sri Lanka’s ongoing recovery and long-term development.

The Prime Minister also held discussions with ADB Vice President (South, Central and West Asia) Yingming Yang. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the progress of ongoing ADB-funded projects in Sri Lanka and explored opportunities to further strengthen collaboration in areas such as health, education and social development.

In a separate meeting with Director General of the Sectors Department 3, Christine Engstrom, discussions focused on sector-specific initiatives supported by the ADB, particularly in human and social development, public sector management and financial sector reforms.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya noted that future investments in the education sector should place greater emphasis on human resource development and improving the quality of teaching and learning, alongside infrastructure development.