Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, while thanking the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the assistance provided to Sri Lankas agriculture, rural small and medium sectors and other development projects, urged the regional funding agency to initiate new projects in areas such as renewable energy, digitalization, and public transport systems, especially the railways.He said this when ADB Country Director Takafumi Kadono called on him at the Prime Ministers Office in Colombo on Tuesday (Oct.
03), the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement.PM Gunawardena thanked the ADB for extending support to Sri Lanka for economic stabilization after the unprecedented economic crisis.Mr Takafumi Kadono briefed the Sri Lankan prime minister about the ADBs mid-term and long-term projects for economic progress and infrastructure development.
The ongoing projects cover areas such as strengthening public financial management and governance, fostering private sector development and improving access to public services and deepening inclusion, social protection, equitable access, health, climate and agriculture modernization.He said that ADB Governing Board Members are planning to arrive in Sri Lanka to study the progress of projects and to inquire into the areas of future projects, for which the Prime Ministers proposals for new projects could be considered.Prime Ministers Secretary Anura Dissanayake and ADB Deputy Country Director Utsav Kumar were also in attendance for the discussion.