Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who is attending the ADB 51st Annual Meeting in Manila, had discussions with an ADB Board Executive Director, In-Chang Song, at the ADB HQ last Friday (4th) The ADB program me in Sri Lanka has provided loans, grants and technical assistance to grow the country’s economy and improve the lives of people, particularly the poor, women, children and other vulnerable groups.

The ADB has worked closely with Sri Lanka since 1966, signing loans, grants, and technical assistance totaling $9.1 billion as of December 31, 2017.The government, formed following the presidential and general elections in January 2015 and August 2015, respectively - is focused on inclusive growth, good governance, and private sector development.

Over the next five years, the ADB will contribute to the Sri Lanka’s Government key development goals of job creation, income enhancement, rural economic development, knowledge formation, and economic diversification (including export development). Both sides agreed at the meeting to accelerate ongoing bilateral projects, which currently surpass US$ 3.6 Billion. Sri Lankan delegation to the ADB conference includes Secretary to Treasury Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga and other senior officials from the Budget Dept. and the ERD.