Mr. Kanda was welcomed at the airport by Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando.
Shifting focus from policy discussions to infrastructure and disaster impact, the ADB President toured Colombo Port’s control tower, emphasizing the vital role of maritime facilities in Sri Lanka’s trade and economic resilience. He also engaged with private sector representatives and visited the ADB Sri Lanka Resident Mission.
Tomorrow (24), Mr. Kanda will inspect Cyclone “Ditwah” damage in Aranayaka, Kegalle District, including a drive-through of the Ambalankanda area. The site visit will enable him to assess the impact directly and meet with local communities affected by the disaster.
A key meeting is also scheduled with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat, where discussions will centre on economic recovery strategies, development financing, and strengthening collaboration between Sri Lanka and the ADB.
The visiting delegation includes senior ADB officials such as Sona Shrestha, Director General of the South Asia Regional Department, and Keiichiro Inui, Chief Advisor to the Office of the President.
The visit highlights the ADB’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka not only in economic development but also in building resilience against climate-related challenges.
If you want, I can also craft an even punchier, concise version suitable for print or online news that emphasizes the cyclone assessment angle. Do you want me to do that?
