Asian Development Bank Alternate Executive Director Mahinda Siriwardana and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake have held discussions on Sri Lanka’s economic outlook.

In a post on X, Siriwardana, who served as Sri Lanka’s Treasury Secretary until June 2025, said the talks focused on economic challenges, opportunities and possible pathways forward, including ADB support to strengthen resilience and promote sustainable growth.

The meeting was held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on Wednesday (Jan. 22).

Following his retirement as Sri Lanka’s Treasury Secretary, Siriwardana assumed duties as an Alternate Executive Director of the ADB, representing Sri Lanka and six other countries. (Newswire)

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A Sri Lankan delegation, led by Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana, has met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda in Italy on Tuesday (07 May), on the sidelines of the 58th Annual Meeting of the ADB.

In a statement on ‘X’, Mahinda Siriwardana said that during the discussion with the President of ADB, the delegation thanked the steadfast support extended by the ADB to Sri Lanka in its efforts to overcome the deep economic crisis.

“The strong efforts and specific contribution made by Mr Kanda in Sri Lanka’s official bilateral debt restructuring process were especially appreciated,” he said. 

Mahinda Siriwardana further said challenges in sustaining hard-earned gains in the Sri Lankan economy and working towards achieving a high, sustainable and job rich growth, as well as enhancing technical and financial support of the ADB with respect to those endeavors and newly emerging issues were also discussed during these discussions. (Newswire)

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The Value Added Tax (VAT) will require to be increased from the current 18% to 20-21% if the striking public servants’ demand for a salary increase is met, Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana said. 

Mahinda Siriwardana further said the government is not prepared to fulfill this demand as it would burden the public.

At a meeting held today to address the demands presented by the trade unions, he emphasised that a salary increase this year is not possible. 

He added that however, the 2025 budget will consider revising public service salaries based on the expert committee’s recommendations on salary disparities

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the Treasury Secretary made the remarks during a meeting held under the patronage of President Wickremesinghe at the President’s Office today.

Mahinda Siriwardana’s statement comes at a time when over 200 public sector trade unions have warned of engaging in a two-day ‘Sick Leave’ trade union action today (8) and tomorrow (9). 

Government officials across several sectors, including postal workers, surveyors, agricultural regulators, Grama Niladhari officers, development officers, and prosperity officers, are participating in the strike launched over several demands, including a salary increase. (Newswire)

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