World Bank Vice President: Sri Lanka Crisis is an Opportunity for Fundamental Reforms

COLOMBO  – World Bank Vice President for South Asia, Martin Raiser, concluded a three-day visit to Sri Lanka today, underscoring the need for urgent action to reverse the deep crisis through long overdue reforms. He prioritized debt relief, reform actions based on consensus, and well-targeted measures to protect the poor.

During the visit, Raiser met with the President of Sri Lanka and Minister of Finance HE Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, and other senior officials to discuss the government’s priorities for Sri Lanka’s recovery and key areas for World Bank support.

“This deep crisis is an opportunity for fundamental reforms, and it should not be wasted. The international financial institutions can help but quick and decisive action is needed on debt relief,” said Martin Raiser. “While government reform action is urgent, its success will depend on strong economic, social and political consensus as the reforms will require everyone to adjust – companies, workers, and taxpayers. We also must not forget about the people who will need help with the adjustment and protect the poor and vulnerable.”

A high-level roundtable organized by the Office of the President, focusing on the Government’s reform agenda and sustainable and equitable economic growth for the country, was also part of the visit. The discussion focused on key reform priorities to inform future collaboration and support from international partners, including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and other development partners.

During his remarks at the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2022 organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Raiser emphasized improved economic governance, stronger private sector competition, and better targeted social protection as three priorities for Sri Lanka to reset from turmoil to opportunity. He highlighted private-sector job creation as an important driver of growth and stressed the importance to preserve human capital as the main asset of society.

Raiser also met with representatives of the civil society, private sector, and development partners and visited a World Bank-supported agriculture project in Divulapitiya. To date, the $125 million Agriculture Sector Modernization Project has benefitted close to 128,000 Sri Lankans and generated about $150 million in new export earnings and foreign exchange savings from import substitution for Sri Lanka.

The World Bank was one of the first to respond to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. The Bank’s emergency response repurposed $325 million from existing projects to protect the poor and vulnerable. Of these funds, $241.3 million have already been disbursed to support close to 1 million vulnerable Sri Lankans with cash transfers, 6 million Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders for households and small businesses, $22.3 million-worth medicines and medical supplies to sustain essential services, and 132,500 metric tons of urea fertilizer to support smallholder paddy farmers in the Maha harvesting season. Ongoing projects are also providing support for school meals and tuition waivers for children from vulnerable households.