Mr. Iyer, who represents Sri Lanka and other regional countries on the World Bank’s Executive Board, brings extensive experience in development policy, governance, and international cooperation.
During the visit, he met with Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Treasury and Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to discuss avenues for enhancing economic growth and development.
Mr. Iyer highlighted the World Bank’s priority sectors in emerging markets, including infrastructure—particularly energy and transport—agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and value-added manufacturing, as key drivers of job creation and economic growth.
Dr. Suriyapperuma emphasized the importance of strategies to attract investment, promote inclusive growth, and strengthen cooperation in sectors critical to Sri Lanka’s economic and social development, with a focus on economic resilience, sustainable growth, social development, and institutional capacity building.
The visit also offered an opportunity to review ongoing World Bank-supported initiatives in Sri Lanka and explore ways to enhance their impact, ensuring alignment with the country’s national development objectives.
