Thursday Mar 12, 2026
Thursday Mar 12, 2026
Thursday, 12 March 2026 05:41 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
ADB President Masato Kanda (right) with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said that it is ready to provide more than $ 1 billion annually to Sri Lanka from 2026 to 2029.
Issuing a statement announcing ADB President Masato Kanda’s meeting with visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at its Manila headquarters, the multilateral agency said the 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,” the ADB said.
The ADB said that Kanda met with Dr. Amarasuriya to reaffirm the strong development partnership between the 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,” Kanda said. “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, Kanda emphasised the ADB’s response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Building on emergency financing already mobilised, the 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 the ADB’s International Women’s Day event, the leaders highlighted women’s equality as a cornerstone of inclusive development. Kanda noted the ADB’s longstanding 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.
Dr. Amarasuriya also engaged in dialogue facilitated by the ADB to advance Sri Lanka’s skills agenda, including discussions on referencing skills and qualifications with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and on mutual areas of interest with the Philippines related to technical and vocational education and training.
