World Bank team engages in high-level consultations with key finance oversight committees of Parliament of Sri Lanka

A World Bank team, led by Country Manager Gevorg Sargsyan, held a consultation meeting on September 25, 2025 with Committee on Public Finance Chair Dr. Harsha de Silva and its members. 

The team subsequently held a combined consultation session with Committee on Public Enterprises Chair Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, Committee on Public Accounts Chair Kabir Hashim and Committee on Ways and Means Chair Wijesiri Basnayake, along with the members of the respective committees.

The committee chairs expressed their appreciation to the World Bank for its continued support to Sri Lanka’s development over the years.

During the consultations, the World Bank officials stressed the urgent need for energy sector reforms, noting that Sri Lanka continues to face significantly higher energy costs than the other countries in the region. The developments in the ports and logistics sector were also discussed as critical to national growth.

The World Bank delegation further underscored the need for rightsising the public sector and improving overall productivity, pointing out that Sri Lanka maintains one of the largest public sector workforces with relatively low wage levels compared to the peer countries.

The committee members briefed the World Bank officials on the mandates and oversight functions of their respective committees. Discussions also focused on key areas for reform and growth, including revenue collection improvement, job creation, poverty eradication, enhancing women’s participation in the economy and strengthening sectors such as tourism, education, agriculture and entrepreneurship.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of establishing efficiently run public-private partnerships (PPPs) as an alternative to full privatisation. The World Bank officials shared successful international case studies where well-structured PPPs contributed to enhanced service delivery and sustainable economic development.

These consultations underscore the commitment of both Parliament of Sri Lanka and the World Bank to foster stronger institutional collaboration and drive forward sustainable economic development.

World Bank Group Senior Operations Officer Stephan Massing, IFC Senior Country Officer Victor Anthonypillai, Parliament Director Legislative Services and Director Communication (Acting) M. Jayalath Perera were also present in these meetings.