Sri Lanka and ADB Set 2026-2029 Development Priorities

The Government of Sri Lanka and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held a series of preparatory discussions on October 5 and 6 to establish development priorities and projects for the 2026–2029 period. Co-chaired by Secretary to the President Nandika Sanath Kumanayake and ADB Country Director Shannon Cowlin, the meetings took place at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

The sessions served as a foundation for a program review aimed at implementing the ADB's 2027 annual program. Officials focused on maximizing limited concessional financial resources and technical assistance to accelerate national development and meet specific fiscal targets.

Key priorities included identifying long-term development projects and strengthening government ownership of ADB-funded programs. The two parties also discussed strategies to streamline coordination between government processes and bank procedures to overcome existing challenges in project execution.