Rs. 6.7 billion in ADB capital funds for 2027

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is implementing a major financial assistance programme covering all nine provinces of Sri Lanka for the development of the country’s health sector during the 2025–2030 period.

Under this financial assistance programme, the Provincial Annual Development Plans for 2027—one plan for each province—were reviewed today (12) at Jetwing Lake, Dambulla, under the chairmanship of Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, with the participation of Finance Commission Secretary A.T.M.U.D.B. Tennakoon.

A total of Rs. 6.7 billion in ADB capital funds is expected to be received for 2027, with approximately Rs. 750 million allocated to each province. The relevant plans for 2027 are required to be prepared and submitted to the Finance Commission by mid-November.

Accordingly, the provinces will be able to allocate the relevant funds from January 2027 and implement health development programmes.

Under the Results-Based Lending (RBL) 2020–2030 programme, the ADB has approved a US$100 million loan and a US$6.9 million grant for the overall programme.

Under this mechanism, funds will be released in stages only after the independent verification of the achievement of specific, pre-agreed health targets or indicators, known as Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs). The health departments of all nine provinces and the Ministry of Health of the central government are required to work directly towards achieving these targets.

The Finance Commission regularly reviews the Provincial Annual Development Plans of all nine provinces, involving the Chief Secretaries and health officials, to ensure the efficient use of funds and the achievement of the stipulated targets.

The ADB has also allocated a separate provision to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media. Plans relating to this allocation have already been prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Finance.

ADB Team Leader Dai-Ling Chen and ADB Senior Public Health Specialist Consultant Dr. Kumari Vinodani Navaratne, together with Provincial Directors of Health Services, District Directors of Health Services, Provincial Secretaries and a number of health officials, participated in the occasion.