Crisis gave Sri Lanka a window of opportunity: President tells World Bank chief in New York

Sri Lanka will drive as far as possible the window of opportunity brought about by the crisis, as such may not be presented again, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told World Bank President this week.
Engaging with the WB Chief Ajay Banga in a high-level discussion at the United Nations Head Quarters (UNHQ) on Monday, Wickremesinghe shared the plans laid out by the government to steer the country towards revival.
He pointed out the immediate focus on tourism, food security, and agricultural modernisation.

“So now we are planning it and the first is the total package of economic reforms that have to be done. Crisis gives us a window of opportunity and we will not have that again. So we will drive that as far as possible. And then focus immediately on the different sectors,” said Wickremesinghe during the meeting that was held on the sidelines of the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in New York.
“We are starting with tourism, which is the lowest-hanging fruit. Then, food security and agricultural modernisation. Those two would be the ones that we start with. 

“Thereafter, we will be going into the other areas, the traditional exports. Agriculture would mean modernisation and the whole gamut of things,” he added. In the area of education and technology, President Wickremesinghe expressed his desire for additional technological universities and renewable energy development, which would significantly impact the northern region of Sri Lanka. 

Wickremesinghe also expressed gratitude to the World Bank for extending support when the country was grappling with the worst crisis faced in history.
“The money was available at least for the basics and that helped us tide through the most difficult months. Now it’s a matter of finalising the debt restructuring and moving on from there,” 
he said.