Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya held a series of bilateral meetings with senior officials of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 10 March at the ADB Headquarters in Manila, during her official visit to the Philippines. The discussions focused on strengthening development cooperation between Sri Lanka and the ADB, reviewing ongoing projects, and exploring opportunities for future collaboration.

The Prime Minister first met with ADB President Masato Kanda. During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the strong partnership between Sri Lanka and the Asian Development Bank. President Kanda welcomed the Prime Minister’s visit and commended Sri Lanka’s efforts to stabilise the economy and advance recovery following the recent economic crisis.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya expressed Sri Lanka’s appreciation for the continued support extended by ADB, including assistance provided in response to the impacts of Cyclone Ditwah and the Bank’s broader development cooperation with the country. She highlighted the importance of ADB-supported initiatives across key sectors that contribute to Sri Lanka’s ongoing recovery and long-term development.

The Prime Minister also held discussions with Yingming Yang, Vice President (South, Central and West Asia) of ADB, where both sides reviewed the progress of ongoing ADB-funded projects in Sri Lanka and explored opportunities to further strengthen collaboration in areas such as health, education, and social development.

In a separate meeting with Christine Engstrom, Director General of Sectors Department 3, discussions focused on sector-specific initiatives supported by ADB, particularly in human and social development, public sector management, and financial sector reforms. The Prime Minister noted that future investments in the education sector should place greater emphasis on human resource development and improving the quality of teaching and learning, alongside infrastructure development.

Following these meetings, the Prime Minister participated in a Policy Dialogue on Education and Skills Development, which brought together representatives from ASEAN institutions, Philippine education authorities, and ADB officials. The dialogue focused on regional education systems, policy collaboration, and initiatives aimed at strengthening education and skills development frameworks.

During the discussion, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of expanding education cooperation between Sri Lanka and the Philippines, particularly in areas of policy exchange and institutional collaboration. Participants also discussed the development of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector and explored opportunities to strengthen skills development frameworks to better align with emerging economic demands.

The engagements in Manila reaffirmed the shared commitment between Sri Lanka, the Asian Development Bank, and regional partners to deepen cooperation in advancing sustainable development, strengthening education systems, and promoting inclusive economic growth.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

Bangladesh quick Nahid Rana’s maiden five-wicket haul sent Pakistan  tumbling to an eight-wicket defeat in the first ODI in Mirpur. Bangladesh completed the 115-run chase in 15.1 overs after they bowled out the visitors for 114. This was’s  Bangladesh’s biggest win by wickets and balls remaining against Pakistan.

Tanzid Hasan struck seven fours and five sixes in his unbeaten 42-ball 67, while Najmul Hossain Shanto made 27 with five fours. The pair added 82 runs for the second wicket, as this became the shortest ODI between Bangladesh and Pakistan in terms of total overs bowled.

It was all due to Rana, who had a huge influence in the game in his spell of seven overs. He picked up a wicket in each of his first five overs, as Pakistan sunk rapidly against Rana’s pace and bounce, reminiscent of the last time they came across the fast bowler. Rana had taken four wickets in the Rawalpindi Test in 2024.

Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya participated in the International Women’s Day Flagship Event hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 10 March at the ADB Headquarters in Manila, Philippines. The event brought together senior ADB leadership, representatives of the diplomatic community, and development partners to mark International Women’s Day and to reaffirm global commitments to gender equality.

Delivering the keynote address, the Prime Minister highlighted the critical role of education in empowering women and girls, emphasising that equitable access to quality education remains one of the most powerful tools for achieving social and economic transformation. She underscored Sri Lanka’s longstanding commitment to education and noted the importance of strengthening inclusive learning systems that enable women to fully participate in national development.

The Prime Minister also drew attention to the significant contribution of women’s unpaid care work, noting that it remains largely unrecognised despite its vital role in sustaining families, communities, and national economies. She emphasised the need for policies and social protection mechanisms that acknowledge and support care work, thereby enabling women to participate more fully in economic life.

Addressing broader structural challenges, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of increasing women’s participation in political decision-making and the labour force, noting that inclusive governance and economic participation are essential for sustainable and equitable development.

She highlighted the need for continued collaboration between governments, international institutions, and development partners to remove barriers that limit women’s opportunities.

During the event, Prime Minister was honoured with the Shireen Lateef Women’s Leadership Award in recognition of her commitment to advancing women’s leadership and empowerment.

The event was opened by the President of the Asian Development Bank and senior ADB leadership, followed by a high-level discussion on advancing gender equality across the region. The Prime Minister’s participation reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with international institutions to promote women’s empowerment and gender-responsive development policies.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)