Business
Sri Lanka identified as the largest recipient of ADB infrastructure support
By Sanath Nanayakkare
Sri Lanka, a founding member of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has received cumulative loans and technical assistance totaling US$12.6 billion between 1966 and 2024, And the Bank identifies Sri Lanka as the largest recipient of ADB infrastructure support among developing countries.
Currently, the ADB’s active sovereign lending portfolio for Sri Lanka stands at 4 billion, with an indicative financing pipeline of $900 million estimated for 2025, pending government confirmation.
These funds have been instrumental in developing key sectors such as agriculture, natural resources, rural development, roads, water and urban infrastructure, public sector management, finance, education, health, transport, and energy including the most important policy-based budget support.
The ongoing $4 billion portfolio is being utilized across 27 projects, comprising 36 loans and 4 grants. The allocation includes:
Transport: $859 million
Energy: $869 million
Water and Urban Infrastructure: $393 million
Public Sector Management and Finance: $669 million
Education and Health: $823 million
Agriculture and Rural Development: $422 million
The proposed $900 million pipeline for 2025, subject to government approval, will target six sectors: macroeconomic stability, power, agriculture, finance, tourism, and skills development. Funding will be delivered through policy-based loans, results-based lending, investment projects, and technical assistance initiatives.
The ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy for 2024-2028 emphasizes strengthening public financial management, governance, domestic resource mobilization, and state-owned enterprise (SOE) reforms. Key areas include enhancing transparency, governance, competition policy, and climate change and disaster risk management.
Sectoral Allocation of Cumulative ADB Support (1966-2024)
Transport: 26%
Energy: 14%
Finance: 15%
Human Development: 13%
Agriculture: 12%
Urban Development: 11%
Public Sector: 6%
Industry and Trade: 2%
Multisector: 1%
ADB Country Director Takafumi Kadono and Country Operations Head Cholpon Mambetova announced these figures during a media briefing in Colombo on February 13, 2025. Kadono emphasized that ADB’s support was tailored to Sri Lanka’s needs, particularly during periods when access to capital markets or other lending institutions were minimal.
“We provide policy-based budget support to ensure structural and policy reforms are implemented, addressing underlying weaknesses and fostering sustainable, inclusive growth,” Kadono said. He added that ADB-funded projects undergo rigorous due diligence and are prioritized based on necessity, ensuring they address critical needs rather than being merely “nice to have.”
Mambetova highlighted Sri Lanka’s status as the largest recipient of ADB infrastructure support among developing countries, with 26% of the total loan portfolio allocated to the transport sector. She noted the ongoing construction of the elevated highway between the New Kelani Bridge and Galle Face in central Colombo, which will extend the expressway network into the city center and port. “This vital infrastructure project is nearing completion and will soon be inaugurated,” she said.
Discussions are underway with the Sri Lankan government to finalize the 2025-2028 project pipeline during the Country Programming Mission in March. The ADB will continue to support investment projects and provide technical assistance grants to strengthen government institutions, enhance capacity development, and conduct analytical research.
Sri Lanka’s partnership with the ADB remains a cornerstone of its development strategy, ensuring critical investments in infrastructure, governance, and sustainable growth.
ADB and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka have come together to support the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) on select Anti-Corruption Initiatives in Sri Lanka.
“The response to people’s aspirations for better governance and rooting out corruption requires political will, strong partnerships, and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders working on Sri Lanka’s recovery and sustained development,” the two senior ADB representatives said.
Company stresses ambition to surpass this milestone
Eyes markets across Africa and beyond
In a groundbreaking achievement for Sri Lanka’s IT and electronics manufacturing industry, EWIS Colombo Ltd, the country’s first and only local computer manufacturer, has successfully exported its first consignment of locally built laptops to Zimbabwe.
This landmark event not only positions Sri Lanka as an emerging force in global IT hardware manufacturing but also highlights EWIS’s commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence on the international stage.
This historic shipment, dispatched from EWIS’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Samajasewapura, Sooriyawewa, underscores the company’s dedication to delivering world-class technology solutions. With over 11 years of expertise in manufacturing and assembly, EWIS Colombo Ltd has played a pivotal role in driving Sri Lanka’s ICT sector forward. As a Board of Investment (BOI) Section 17-approved company, EWIS has established the country’s first and only local computer manufacturing plant, paving the way for the nation’s growth in high-tech exports.
Speaking on this momentous achievement, Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, Chairman of EWIS Colombo Ltd, said: “This milestone is not just for EWIS but for Sri Lanka as a whole. It proves that our country has the talent, capability, and ambition to manufacture and export high-quality IT products, competing confidently on the global stage. As we continue expanding beyond local markets, we take immense pride in showcasing Sri Lanka’s excellence in technology and innovation to the world. EWIS’s commitment to world-class quality is reinforced by its ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, CE, FCC, and RoHS certifications, ensuring compliance with international quality, safety, and environmental standards.”
Speaking further he said:
“For nearly four decades, EWIS has been a trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s ICT sector, delivering cutting-edge solutions for education, businesses, and government enterprises.
With over 11 years of local manufacturing and assembly expertise, EWIS has continuously refined its capabilities to produce high-quality, internationally competitive IT hardware. The successful export to Zimbabwe represents a bold step toward expanding EWIS’s global footprint, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s potential as a world-class technology and manufacturing hub.”
The International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), a pioneer in healthcare training for over 23 years, has partnered with the University of Surrey, UK, to revolutionise healthcare education in Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region. This will create a world-class academic pathway for aspiring nursing and healthcare professionals, as well as young individuals seeking careers in the field. Under this agreement, IIHS and the University of Surrey will introduce a series of academic initiatives to enhance healthcare training and accessibility.
These include delivering internationally recognised nursing programmes that allow Sri Lankan and regional students to earn globally competitive qualifications in Sri Lanka.
Commenting on the move, Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe, CEO & Dean of Undergraduate Studies at IIHS, said: “This MOU marks a significant step in our mission to deliver world-class healthcare education to Sri Lanka and the region. IIHS remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare professionals and fostering global healthcare leadership.” Dr. Shelini Surendran, Associate Dean (International) at the University of Surrey, emphasised: “Sri Lanka is establishing itself as a regional education hub, and this partnership ensures students across Asia can access top-tier UK healthcare education at IIHS. By bridging academic excellence with accessibility, we provide students with a clear pathway to their professional goals.”
Dialog Television, Sri Lanka’s #1 Pay-TV service provider, has partnered with Emerging Media to enhance the convenience and effectiveness of advertising. This collaboration brings together Dialog Television’s world-class entertainment, featuring 18 advertisable channels across genres such as movies, edutainment, kids, music, sports, and local content, with Emerging Media’s expertise in digital advertising and targeted marketing. This synergy creates a seamless platform for businesses to maximize brand exposure across multiple channels.
With a reach of over 1.7 million households, Dialog Television provides advertisers with a powerful avenue to engage diverse audiences. Brands can place advertisements on leading international and local channels such as &flix, Star Movies, TLC, Animal Planet, AXN, Zee Café, Comedy Central, Star Plus, A+, Nickelodeon, Star Vijay, Zee Tamil, Star Sports, Ten Cricket, Sony SIX, ThePapare TV, Channel One, Citi Hitz and Channel C. Through this partnership, Emerging Media will facilitate advertising sales, allowing businesses to target specific viewer segments while simplifying the media buying process with a single point of contact.
Commenting on the partnership, Lim Li San, Group Chief Operating Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC, stated, “As Sri Lanka’s premier Pay-TV service provider, we serve more than 1.7 million households with over 6 million pairs of captive eyeballs across Sri Lanka. Today, we are excited to embark on this partnership with Emerging Media to avail our Dialog Television platform and brand strength to provide quality advertisement exposure and customer engagement to local businesses across Sri Lanka.”
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