Sri Lanka gets visit by ADB vice president

Aug 18, 2010 (LBO) - Asian Development Bank (ADB) said its Vice President Xiaoyu Zhao will visit Sri Lanka from 19-21 August for talks with the government and to visit ADB funded projects especially in the former northern war zone. The bank said in a statement Zhao will review ADB support for the reconstruction and development of post-conflict Sri Lanka as well as other ADB development programs.

Sri Lanka is recovering from the effects of a 30-year ethnic war which ended in May 2009.

Zhao will meet Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa Minister of Economic Development, Sarath Amunugama, Deputy Minister Finance & Planning, and Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Power and Energy.

Zhao will discuss ADB's on going assistance for the country's infrastructure development, as well as support to the rehabilitation of refugees.

He is also to meet some refugees now resettled in northern Kilinochchi, the ADB said.

Zhai will also visit northern Jaffna to see ADB-funded road and power projects and will inaugurate a medium voltage power project in the town of Chavakachcheri.

Earlier this year, ADB approved a 150 million US dollar emergency assistance loan for Sri Lanka for the reconstruction of urgen