A Photo Exhibition to mark the golden jubilee of Asian Development Bank (ADB) – Sri Lanka Partnership 1966- 2016 organized by the Bank’s Sri Lanka Mission at Galle Town Hall was inaugurated by the Southern Province Governor Dr. Hemakumara Nanayakkara on Wednesday .
ADB 50 @ Photo Exhibition contained a large collection of photographs depicting landmark projects launched for the multi-sectorial progress of the country during its 50 years of partnership with Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka being a founder member of the Asian Development Bank which was established in 1966, has been largely benefited by the Bank in diverse fields of development.
In a pamphlet issued in connection with the 50th anniversary of ADB- Sri Lanka Partnership, Sri Lanka Mission states that since the initial years ADB has cumulatively lent $ 8.2 billion and provided more than $ 363 million in grant assistance and more than $ 138 million in technical assistance to the country.
ADB has a membership of 67 countries, of which 48 are from the region. Asian Development Bank mainly focused on alleviating poverty in Asia and Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration.
Southern Province Governor, Dr. Hemakuamra Nanayakkara delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of ADB @ 50 Photo Exhibition said, the specific feature he observed in ADB’s investments in the country was, that the ADB’s prioritized objective in initiating all its projects was to provide wide ranging benefits to a large number of people through regional development.
Since its inception, the Asian Development Bank has contributed largely for the development of the country, giving priority to regional development. In respect of the Southern Province, since its initial years of operation the ADB launched a special loan scheme for the development of tea factories. The investment scheme launched in the tea industry helped to modernize our tea factories. The modernization process in turn helped to produce quality tea which brought much profits to the factory owners as well as the tea small holders who supplied green leaf supplies to the factories.
The governor who pointed out that in the past two decades when many banks came forward to provide successive governments with massive loans at commercial rates which ensnared our country into a heavy debt trap, commended the ADB for assisting us with a “Big Heart”.
At a time that other banks offered us loans at commercial rates, the ADB never did that. You helped us with a “Big Heart” he commended.
Ms. Sri Widowathi, Country Director, Sri Lanka Mission of Asian Development Bank made the Welcome remarks, while Juliano Fernando, Senior Finance and Administration Officer of ADB Sri Lanka Mission proposed the Vote of Thanks.