PM says UN to assist reforms, digitalisation and poverty eradication programs in Sri Lanka

The United Nations Assistant Secretary General (ASG) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Director for Asia and the Pacific Kanni Wignaraja yesterday expressed appreciation over the reforms undertaken for socio-political development in Sri Lanka and assured continuous assistance under the UNDP.

When she called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, she lauded the Prime Minister’s role in ensuring the empowerment of the downtrodden people of Sri Lanka.

“We highly appreciate your consistent policy to work for uplifting the marginalised people of the country that you have carried out for the last 30 or 40 years,” the Prime Minister’s Media Division quoted Wignaraja as saying.

She called on to discuss Sri Lanka’s development programs related to policy reforms, digitalisation, public sector modernisation, climate change, green economy, water and other related development matters.

The Prime Minister briefed her on the steps taken for economic recovery and the programs for long term infrastructure development. He explained the steps taken to broaden the tax base and said the new tax policy of registering all citizens over 18 would boost digitalisation plans and help eradicate corruption and waste, while enhancing transparency. He said the tender and procurement system will also be digitalised under the e-procurement platform that comes into effect in March this year for local procurements and in September for international biddings.

UNDP Resident Representative Azusa Kubota, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake and Finance Ministry DG (SDG)  Chamindri Saparamadu also took part in the discussion.