President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has urged the World Bank to help convey to the international community the transparent and corruption-free nature of Sri Lanka’s present governance framework, noting that such recognition would strengthen the country’s ability to attract new investment.
He made these remarks on Monday (15) during a meeting with a World Bank delegation led by Johannes Zutt, Vice President for the South Asia Region, at the Presidential Secretariat.
Focus on Development and Investment
The discussions explored how the World Bank could assist Sri Lanka in achieving its development objectives. The World Bank team expressed appreciation for Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic programme and recommended increased emphasis on economic growth and job creation.
They identified key sectors including digitalisation, tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure as areas capable of generating short-term gains, while also stressing the importance of development in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Approval has already been granted for several programmes submitted by the Government of Sri Lanka for World Bank support, officials confirmed.
Strengthening Economic Stability
President Dissanayake reiterated that the government is committed to stabilising the economy and building a foundation for growth. He noted that while Sri Lanka was once internationally viewed as a corrupt nation, the current administration’s transparent policies were enabling steady progress not only in the economy but also in political and social stability.
Participants in the Meeting
The World Bank delegation included David Sislen, Division Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Labour Minister and Deputy Economic Development Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russell Aponso, and several other officials.
