World Bank (WB) Group President Ajay Banga concluded a successful official visit to Sri Lanka, marked by high-level engagements with top government leaders including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath.
During his meetings, Mr. Banga reaffirmed the World Bank’s continued commitment to Sri Lanka’s development agenda, emphasising the institution’s role as a key partner in the nation’s journey towards economic and social recovery and advancement. His discussions with Minister Herath focused on strengthening collaboration in tackling Sri Lanka’s ongoing challenges and charting a course toward long-term prosperity.
Minister Herath expressed deep appreciation for the World Bank’s unwavering support through various stages of Sri Lanka’s development. “The Bank’s steadfast assistance has been instrumental in propelling our development efforts. Our discussions have further strengthened the alignment of our mutual goals for the future,” he stated.
Mr. Banga underscored that the World Bank remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s long-term development ambitions, pointing to key areas such as infrastructure improvement, climate resilience, and human capital development as priorities. He emphasised that sustained cooperation in these sectors would be essential for ensuring durable progress and inclusive growth for the country.
Joining the discussions were Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe, Ministry Secretary Aruni Ranaraja, World Bank Special Advisor Trevor Kincaid, WB Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka David Sislen, and other senior officials from both the World Bank and the Ministry.
The visit reinforced the strength of the Sri Lanka–World Bank partnership and signalled a renewed focus on collaborative strategies to address pressing national priorities while laying the groundwork for sustainable development.
