ADB reaffirms commitment to Sri Lanka

• Over US $ 1bn annual support pipeline continues

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s recovery and long-term development during the talks between ADB President Masato Kanda and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the ADB headquarters in Manila, with the lender noting that its pipeline of support to the country exceeds US $ 1 billion annually from 2026 to 2029.

The meeting underscored the strong development partnership between the ADB and Sri Lanka, with discussions focusing on post-disaster recovery, inclusive growth and advancing women’s economic empowerment.

“Sri Lanka’s resilience in the face of crises has been remarkable,” Kanda said.

He added that the ADB remains committed to helping the country rebuild following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah while also investing in long-term priorities such as education, skills development and support for women entrepreneurs.

The ADB said it is fast-tracking an emergency assistance loan to restore the infrastructure damaged by the cyclone and support the affected livelihoods, building on the emergency financing already mobilised.

Women’s equality also featured prominently in the discussions, with Dr. Amarasuriya serving as the keynote speaker at the ADB’s International Women’s Day event. 

Kanda highlighted the ADB’s role as an implementing partner of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, which expands access to finance, business training and policy reforms for women-owned enterprises.

Sri Lanka became one of the first countries to adopt the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code at national level in March 2025, a move aimed at strengthening financial inclusion for the women-led businesses.

The ADB said its support to Sri Lanka would continue to focus on macroeconomic stability, private sector-led growth, education and skills development and resilient infrastructure. 

The key initiatives include a major digital transformation programme to help unlock the country’s digital economy, alongside support for Sri Lanka’s efforts to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to deepen the integration into regional trade and investment networks.

Dr. Amarasuriya also engaged in the ADB-facilitated discussions on advancing Sri Lanka’s skills agenda, including aligning qualifications frameworks with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and exploring cooperation with the Philippines in technical and vocational education and training.