World Bank praises Sri Lanka over achieving development goals

The World Bank has stated that Sri Lanka had been rapidly achieving its development goals which were set at the time loans were granted to it. 

According to the Finance Ministry the World Bank Vice President of the South Asian Region, Annette Dixon, has said that the financial discipline practised by the incumbent Government was the reason for such results.

Dixon said this during a special meeting she had with Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday at the Finance Ministry. Dixon is currently in the island on an official visit to assess how Sri Lanka has utilised World Bank loans in development projects in the country.

Sri Lanka has achieved its development goals quickly therefore the World Bank was pleased to extend it further assistance, Dixon said. She also hailed Sri Lanka’s efforts to speed up its development drive.

Meanwhile, Minister Karunanayake told Dixon that Sri Lanka had embarked on a long journey of economic development through the guidance of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.  

The country’s financial discipline has been strengthened while transparency has also been assured, he asserted. Minister Karunanayake added that the aim of the Government was to further quicken the pace of these development projects. He also conveyed his appreciation of the assistance extended by international financial institutions such as the World Bank.

World Bank Sri Lanka Country Director Dr. Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, Deputy Treasury Secretary S.R. Artigala and Director General of the External Resources Department Priyantha Rathnayake were also present at the occasion.