Thursday, 19th June 2014
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at President's House yesterday morning. During the discussion, President Rajapaksa briefed Nakao on Sri Lanka's post-war development. The President explained how the government immediately attended to the resettlement of the internally displaced persons and the rehabilitation of ex-combatants.
"The war was never against the Tamil community, it was against terrorism," President Rajapaksa said. President Rajapaksa also described the development projects the government undertook immediately after the war to develop the Northern Province.
"You must go and see the development yourself," the President told Nakao. Sri Lanka joined the ADB as a founding member in 1966. According to the ADB, from then until the end of last year, the Bank has provided a total of $ 6.17 billion in lending and $ 358 million in grants. The ADB supports Sri Lanka in energy, roads, water supply and sanitation, education and skills development, post-conflict reconstruction and water resource management sectors.
"Sri Lanka's social indicators are among the best in South Asia," the ADB states on its website.
"The country has achieved near universal literacy, and has a comparatively low poverty level. Economic growth has been steady since the military conflict ended, but slowed in 2012. Growth had, however, picked up strongly again by the third quarter of 2013."
ADB's South Asia Department Director General Juan Miranda, ADB's Sri Lanka Resident Mission Country Director Sri Widowati and other ADB officials participated in the discussion.
The Sri Lankan delegation comprised International Monetary Cooperation Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullus Alahapperuma, Finance and Planning Ministry and Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera and Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal.
From : http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local/adb-president-calls-president
