COLOMBO, 6 May, 2021 (TON): Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected as the Chairman of the Asian Development Bank Board of Governors for the year 2021/2022 at the 54th Annual General Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held virtually on May 5th. 

The Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, as the Minister of Finance, currently serves as the Governor of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Sri Lanka. 

During the meeting, Rajapaksa said, "Our region has faced many crises, but Asia is also known for its resilience. Therefore, it is not surprising that our region is leading the growth story of the world, even during the current pandemic."  

He further added that "emerging Asia" had a responsibility to lead the world and must ensure sustainable practices that will make the environment resilient to climate change. 

"Our policy solutions must be environmentally and socially sustainable. We must preserve our way of life for future generations. The need now is to collectively cooperate in addressing our common issues," Rajapaksa said. 

In addition, he said countries must reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and he believed the ADB must lead the way in supporting member countries to make the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. 

"We also believe the ADB must extend support to emerging Asia to have smarter, eco-sustainable cities. It should be a new approach to ensure that access to resources is better managed," he said. 

He also said countries must focus more on women empowerment and recognize the crucial role that women play in creating a just and equitable society. 

The ADB Governors of Austria and Mongolia were elected Deputy Governors of the Asian Development Bank at this meeting. Sri Lanka will host the 55th annual meeting of the ADB Board of Governors next year in Colombo.