On May 8, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya had a meeting with Mr. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, at her office to talk about Sri Lanka’s key development goals and to continue their strategic partnership.
The Prime Minister thanked the World Bank for their assistance during Sri Lanka’s recent financial turmoil and reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to equitable and environmentally sound progress. Mr. Banga praised the country’s plan for reforms and stressed that fostering job growth and improving work conditions would be crucial elements in reviving the economy.
The talks centered around investing in essential areas like healthcare, education, farming, travel, and manufacturing businesses. Mr. Banga emphasized the role of artificial intelligence in reshaping major fields, notably agriculture, and urged Sri Lanka to investigate how AI can be utilized for advancement and efficiency.
The Prime Minister highlighted continuous initiatives to enhance healthcare policies and broaden technical and vocational training programs to meet the requirements of growing sectors.
Mr. Trevor Kincaid, acting as the Special Advisor, along with Mr. David Sislen, who oversees the countries of Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, joined by Mr. Gevorg Sargsyan managing affairs for Maldives and Sri Lanka, and Mr. Imad Fakhoury leading regional operations for South Asia at the International Finance Corporation—all these individuals from their respective institutions took part in the gathering.
On behalf of the Sri Lankan government, participation came from Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, serving as the Secretary to the Prime Minister; Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, holding an additional role within the office of the Prime Minister; Dr. P.K.G. Harischandra representing his country as the Alternate Executive Director at the IMF for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Sri Lanka’s collective interests; Mr. Dharshana Perera, senior director general focusing on economic matters under bilateral relations at the Ministry overseeing foreign employment and tourism; alongside Mr. Dammika Premarathna, whose position includes being an extra director general handling external resources.
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