United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Secretary-General Kanni Wignaraja met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Office this morning (14). The discussion focused on key areas such as governance, constitutional reforms, and Sri Lanka’s electoral system.
During the meeting, Wignaraja presented a UNDP report titled “Understanding Multi-dimensional Risk Situations and Their Impact on the People of Sri Lanka.” The report outlines various challenges facing the country, and Wignaraja assured the President that the UNDP would fully support Sri Lanka’s development initiatives based on its findings.
One of the critical issues discussed was the low level of women’s participation in the national economy, especially in rural areas. The UNDP highlighted that limited economic involvement of rural women has created significant obstacles for the country’s financial sector. The conversation also touched on the agricultural sector, which shows low representation in Sri Lanka’s overall economy. President Dissanayake explained that most farmers operate on small plots of land and do not view farming as their primary source of income. To address this, the government plans to strengthen farmers’ associations to enhance their bargaining power and boost agricultural activities.
The meeting also underscored the relatively low agricultural productivity in Sri Lanka compared to other Asian countries. The President noted that addressing this issue is key to improving the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.
Wignaraja also expressed the UNDP’s willingness to support Sri Lanka’s digitization initiatives, emphasizing that digital tools can play a crucial role in reducing corruption. The discussion further covered reforms to the electoral system, with President Dissanayake stressing that these reforms should ensure inclusive representation of all ethnic and religious communities in Sri Lanka.
The challenges in the microfinance sector were another point of concern, with the President noting the unfair interest rates affecting the sector. He shared plans to establish a new development bank aimed at supporting microfinance, with a special focus on involving more women. The proposed bank would offer treasury guarantees for outstanding business proposals from women entrepreneurs, helping them secure the necessary capital.
The meeting reaffirmed the UNDP’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s reform agenda, anti-corruption efforts, and the drive to increase women’s participation in both the economy and political sphere.
Also present at the discussion were Azusa Kubota, UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka, and Fadhil Bakeer Markar, Strategic Engagement, Digital, and Innovation Group Leader.
