July 15, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (14) hosted Sultan A. Al‑Marshad, Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), at the Presidential Secretariat to review existing development projects and chart a course for future collaboration.
The leaders evaluated ongoing SFD-funded initiatives across Sri Lanka and discussed strategic priorities for the next phase of cooperation. A key outcome from the meeting was Saudi Arabia’s interest in supporting the island’s digitalisation agenda, aimed at enhancing efficiency in public service delivery.
President Dissanayake reiterated the deep-rooted friendship between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia, thanking them for unwavering financial and logistical assistance provided during the recent economic downturn.
He emphasised that any new financing from the SFD will be directed towards initiatives identified by communities as most needed—ensuring that projects address real, on-the-ground priorities.
The delegation from Saudi Arabia included H.E. Khalid Hamoud Nasser Aldasam Alkahtani, Ambassador to Sri Lanka, and Dr Saud Ayid Al‑Shammari, Director General of Asia Operations at the SFD. Sri Lanka was represented by a senior ministerial delegation including Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando (Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development), Roshan Gamage (Senior Additional Secretary to the President), Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma (Secretary to the Ministry of Finance) and R.M.S.P.S. Bandara (Director General of External Resources).
Both sides expressed optimism that the renewed discussions would lead to impactful, people-centred projects—especially in the digital and infrastructural sectors—strengthening bilateral ties and supporting Sri Lanka’s ongoing recovery and development goals.
