ADB Says Resilience Must Be Built for the Long Term

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s development path continues to be shaped by decades of repeated shocks that have tested the resilience of the country and its people, according to Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for Sri Lanka, Shannon Cowlin.

She said that over the last three decades, Sri Lanka has faced multiple crises, including the Asian tsunami, terrorist attacks, the COVID‑19 pandemic, a severe economic crisis and, most recently, Cyclone Ditwah. The ongoing war in the Middle East, she added, has introduced new risks to an already fragile recovery.

These successive shocks, Cowlin said, have pushed many people into poverty and reversed hard‑won development gains, including for families that were previously financially secure. They have also exposed deep social vulnerabilities and long‑standing structural weaknesses in the economy.

In response to the economic crisis, Cowlin noted that the government has undertaken significant reforms aimed at addressing macroeconomic weaknesses, strengthening institutions and transforming Sri Lanka into a high‑growth, inclusive and resilient economy. 

While she described the rebound as remarkable, she cautioned that much work remains to reduce vulnerabilities and advance the reform agenda.

She stressed that crises, despite their harsh consequences, particularly for the poor and vulnerable, also create moments of choice.

They compel policymakers and development partners to examine how resilience can be built through development programmes, how the most vulnerable can be protected while rebuilding the economy, what drives vulnerability, and how economies can be better prepared for future shocks. She added that ensuring new growth is inclusive and sustainable is central to shaping Sri Lanka’s future economic trajectory.

Cowlin said finding answers to these questions requires honest, well‑informed dialogue involving a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including those most affected by crises. Such dialogue, she said, must create space for practical solutions grounded in both local and international experience.

She emphasised that development during crisis and recovery goes beyond financing reconstruction or restoring business as usual. In the aftermath of shocks, development efforts must remain responsive and innovative while staying the course so that long‑term outcomes are not repeatedly derailed by the next crisis.

To respond effectively, Cowlin said policies and programmes must be designed with flexibility, supported by contingency mechanisms, and backed by social protection systems that can be rapidly scaled during emergencies. She noted the need for targeted investments to strengthen the resilience of poor and vulnerable households and to address the needs of disadvantaged groups, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Achieving these objectives, she said, will require stronger institutions, clearer policy frameworks, improved coordination, and greater digital integration to enhance service delivery and monitoring as Sri Lanka continues its path toward recovery and long‑term resilience.