World Bank looks at further collaboration in Sri Lanka: South Asia VP

Aug 29, 2016 (LBO) – The World Bank says it will further support Sri Lanka’s journey towards higher growth and prosperity and this will require progress across all provinces. "I hope to continue discussions that I have previously had with government to further our collaboration.

We look forward to continue supporting Sri Lanka’s ambitious development agenda," Anntte Dixon, vice president, World Bank South Asia Region said. She is on an official two day visit to Sri Lanka and will visit World Bank supported projects.

“I look forward to my first visit to the Northern Province of Sri Lanka and meeting with key officials as well as civil society representatives to receive a firsthand account of the development progress and how the Bank’s support can have maximum impact,” she said. “Sri Lanka’s journey towards higher growth and prosperity will require progress across all provinces.” Dixon will be visiting World Bank supported projects aimed at enhancing economic growth and development. The visit will cover projects supporting local government service delivery, Jaffna city development priorities and opportunities to modernize agriculture in the Northern Province - with a focus on creating livelihood opportunities and increasing productivity. She will be meeting with senior officials including Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Finance; Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka; and C. V. Vigneswaran, Chief Minister Northern Province and other officials. This is her third visit to Sri Lanka since taking office in December 2014. The World Bank Group’s activities are guided by a Country Partnership Framework (CPF) which is agreed upon with the Government of Sri Lanka. The CPF will guide the collaboration for the next 4 years until June 2020. The World Bank’s current portfolio consists of 1.8 billion US dollars in financing commitments.