Martin Raiser, Vice President for the South Asia Region of the World Bank, paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Parliament of Sri Lanka. The discussion focused on the country’s development priorities, including education, gender equality, and regional inclusivity, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
A significant portion of the talks addressed the need to enhance access to quality education, with a particular emphasis on the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. Both parties highlighted the importance of integrating TVET into mainstream education to offer students diverse career pathways.
Gender equality in the workforce also featured prominently in the discussions. The meeting underscored the necessity of policy interventions and support systems to increase women’s participation in economic activities, a key step toward achieving sustainable progress.
The dialogue reaffirmed the shared commitment of Sri Lanka and the World Bank to collaborate on sustainable solutions for education, gender equity, and regional development.
The meeting was attended by senior World Bank officials, including David Sislen, Regional Country Director for Nepal, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Senior Sri Lankan government representatives present included Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister; Sagarika Bogahawatta, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister; Samantha Bandara, Director General of the Department of External Resources; Dharshana M. Perera, Senior Director-General for Economic Affairs (Bilateral) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Lashinka Dammullage, Director of the Southeast Asia & Central Asia Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
