ADB President welcomes Sri Lanka Prime Minister, Reaffirms support for recovery and reform

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda met today with Sri Lanka Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya at ADB’s Manila headquarters. The meeting reaffirmed the strong development partnership between ADB and Sri Lanka, with both leaders underscoring their commitment to post-cyclone recovery, inclusive growth, and advancing women’s equality.

“Sri Lanka’s resilience in the face of crises has been remarkable,” said Mr. Kanda. “We are committed to helping Sri Lanka rebuild after Cyclone Ditwah, while also investing in the country’s future by empowering women entrepreneurs and strengthening education and essential skills.”

During their discussion, Mr. Kanda emphasized ADB’s response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Building on emergency financing already mobilized, ADB is fast-tracking an emergency assistance loan to restore damaged infrastructure and support affected livelihoods.

With Dr. Amarasuriya serving as the keynote speaker for ADB’s International Women’s Day event, the leaders highlighted women’s equality as a cornerstone of inclusive development. Mr. Kanda noted ADB’s long-standing work as an implementing partner of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, which expands access to finance, business skills training, and policy reform for women-owned enterprises. This partnership has helped drive lasting change, with Sri Lanka becoming one of the first countries to adopt the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code at the national level in March 2025.

Looking ahead, ADB is ready to provide more than $1 billion annually to Sri Lanka from 2026 to 2029. This financing will target macroeconomic stability, private sector-led growth, education and skills development, and resilient infrastructure. Key initiatives include a major digital transformation program to help unlock Sri Lanka’s digital economy, alongside support for its accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to deepen its integration into regional trade and investment networks.

Dr. Amarasuriya also engaged in dialogue facilitated by ADB to advance Sri Lanka’s skills agenda, including discussions on referencing skills and qualifications with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and on mutual areas of interest with the Philippines related to technical and vocational education and training.

ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.