(UTV|COLOMBO) – Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has requested for planned projects to be designed in a manner that has a “tangible benefit to the people” during a meeting with the World Bank Vice President for the South Asian Region Hartwig Schafer.
The Prime Minister said infrastructure and rural sector development are key priorities for the new government while there is also a keen interest in assisting small and medium-sized enterprises.
Vice President Schafer, who called the Premier yesterday, agreed that World Bank projects in Sri Lanka should focus on the priorities set out by the new government.
Schafer said “It’s great to see how the country is recovering from the tragedy of the Easter attack. We have long-standing relations with Sri Lanka. We look forward to supporting the journey.”
The Vice President added that the new government has inherited an economy that was under a lot of stress, and offered technical assistance in identified sectors.
Both delegations agreed that it is important to ensure that the agreements entered into are aligned with the priorities and policies of the government.
The delegations also discussed a number of on-going projects and newer potential initiatives in the agriculture, plantation and tourism sectors, and the empowerment of women in rural areas.