Department of National Planning

The "Serendipity Knowledge Program" (SKOP) is ADB's specialized knowledge initiative tailored for Sri Lanka. It aims to effectively address the country's specific needs while aligning with ADB's mission to serve as a knowledge solutions bank. SKOP focuses on disseminating relevant knowledge on key issues impacting Sri Lanka and fostering meaningful discussions among stakeholders. The most recent SKOP event centered on reforms and financial sustainability within Sri Lanka's power sector. It sought to advance discussions on preparing the country for increased renewable energy integration and enhancing customer engagement. This was addressed through policy reforms, infrastructure initiatives, and grid digitalization efforts aimed at transforming the renewable energy and power sector landscape.

The workshop was held on 18th January 2025 at Hotel Citrus, Waskaduwa with support from SL-EPIM project funded by JICA. The workshop included discussions on key topics related to ISPP development, its functionalities, and NPD's strategic role in line with the new Public Financial Management Act. Additionally, a visiting resource person conducted a session on the Enhancement of Workplace Productivity, as per your special request.

The Department of National Planning of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies launched the new National Social Protection Policy of Sri Lanka. This event ceremonially held in Colombo on 16th August 2024 with the participation of higher level officials of the Embassies/High Commissions, development partner agencies, Ministries, Departments and representatives of civil societies. This National Social Protection Policy was formulated by the Department of National Planning recently in a very participatory process with all major stakeholders incorporating inputs from the general public as well. The Social Protection Policy of Sri Lanka enables access to all citizens for appropriate social protection support across the lifecycle. Further, it provides strategic guidance for the development of a well-coordinated and harmonized social protection system for stakeholders across the government and private sector, as well as non-governmental organizations. Mr. R.H.W.A. Kumarasiri, Director General, the Department of National Planning delivered the opening remarks with a brief introduction. This event was honored by Mr. K. M. Mahinda Siriwardana, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies delivering the key note speech emphasizing how the country was recovered from economic crisis and the importance of the National Social Protection Policy and implementation of this policy in an inclusive approach for a macroeconomic stabilization in the economic development landscape. A panel discussion was also held with the participation of experts representing the government sector, academia, development partners, sector specialists as well as the civil society organizations with representation of women and differently abled community.

The National Planning Department, in partnership with the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) convened a National Policy Dialogue on ‘Securing inclusive and Green Economic Recovery and Development in Sri Lanka’ on Wednesday 14th December 2022. The event was co-chaired by Mr. Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary to the Treasury and Ms. Hanna Singer, UN Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka. The aim of the Policy Dialogue was to discuss public policy options that help Sri Lanka build forward better highlighting a pathway towards more inclusive and greener economy, economic recovery programmes and the potential impacts of various policy initiatives on long-term economic, social and environmental outcomes. Commencing the session, Secretary to the Treasury and Chairman of the Sustainable Development Council, Mr. Mahinda Siriwardena highlighted the macro-economic, fiscal and monetary policy reforms initiated by the Government that would help the country to be more resilient to future shocks, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable. The event included a presentation on a set of preliminary findings of a macroeconomic modeling study conducte d by Dr. Vatcharin Sirimaneetham of UNESCAP examining the potential long-term economic, social and environmental impacts of selected policy scenarios in Sri Lanka to foster an SDG-centric economic recovery and public debt sustainability. The presentation was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Mr. Priyantha Ratnayake, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury. Panelists representing the Department of National Planning, Fiscal Policy Department, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development Council and Institute of Policy Studies were invited to share their views on the findings of the study as well as various policy initiatives/ plans, medium to long-term policies under the purview of each agency that help Sri Lanka to secure more inclusive, resilient and greener development. The Policy Dialogue was attended by officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies (representing relevant Treasury departments), Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Finance Commission, Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development Council and other government institutions, the European Union to Sri Lanka, Asian Development Bank, World Bank and UN Agencies.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the period of 2023-2027 was jointly launched by the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations in Sri Lanka on 17th August 2022 at the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies. It has developed through a consultative process among the Government, Private Sector, Civil Organizations and the UN country team in Sri Lanka in line with the Development Framework of the country considering the national and regional priorities, while focusing to achieve the 2030 Agenda based on the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to facilitate the preparation process of this framework, joint National High Level Steering Committee was formed with the representatives from key line ministries, other government institutes and UN agencies and this committee was co-chaired by the Secretary to the Treasury and UN Resident Coordinator. With the approval of Steering Committee, Working Committee was formed and it was led by the Department of National Planning. On the other hand, as the dynamic nature of socio-economic situation of the country, it is expected that this framework will be reviewed annually according to the country context and the priorities of the Government through technical consultations with the relevant Government counterparts and other related stakeholders. This coherent development framework serves as an umbrella policy document, guiding individual UN agencies to support Sri Lanka to accelerate actions toward the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the forthcoming period. This framework is structured around four interrelated and mutually reinforcing strategic priorities where the UN system will concentrate its expertise to support Sri Lanka to make transformational and accelerated progress in the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The UNSDCF will be funded through core budget allocations of an estimated USD 60 Million, in addition to approx. USD 325 Million through other resources – spread across the five-year period of implementation.

The 2022 Regional Cooperation and Integration (RCI) Conference facilitated the discussions among key stakeholders of ADB’s RCI operations. The conference was held with the participation of wide range of participants including, senior officials of ADB’s developing member economies, representatives of development partner agencies, regional cooperation organizations, relevant private sector organizations, civil society, and ADB staff. Main areas of discussion included; the performance, to date, of implementing ADB Strategy 2030 Operational Priority 7 on Fostering RCI (OP7), and key strategic directions for the rest of the OP7 implementation period and beyond. The Director General of the Department of National Planning, Mr. R.H.W.A. Kumarasiri participated at the meeting representing Sri Lanka as the SASEC nodal official.

The European Union assistance under TAMAP program organized educative programs two separate workshops for NPD staff on “Log Frame Analysis”(LFA) and “Results-Oriented in Project Preparation and Review”, to prepare the NPD officials in the results-oriented project preparation and reviewing as well as in applying RBM principles and concepts. This will also make officials equipped with an in-depth knowledge on application of LFA/Results frame work and related other approaches to formulate effective, results oriented projects, to provide guidance and advice to the officials in other Ministries on preparation of projects based on RBM principles and use of LFA in the process of formulating projects by reviewing.

Sri Lanka joined the World Bank’s Human Capital Project (HCP) in June 2021, which is a global effort to accelerate more and better investments in people for inclusive economic growth. The Government of Sri Lanka together with the World Bank is going to launch the HCP officially. To lead this engagement at the working level, the Department of National Planning (NPD) has been designated as the HCP’s focal point for Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the NPD on behalf of the government in collaboration with the World Bank has organized a high-level meeting on human capital, which was held on Wednesday, November 3rd from 5.30 pm to 7.30pm at the Ball Room Mont Blanc, Movenpick Hotel in Colombo. The meeting was organized as part of the visit by World Bank’s South Asia Regional Vice President (RVP) to Sri Lanka and Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, the Honorable Minister of Finance was the chief guest. The meeting was attended in-person by 12 key Ministers and State Ministers and Secretaries and Director Generals in charge of building and protecting human capital in Sri Lanka, including those from health, education, samurdhi and labour etc. At the meeting, Sri Lanka identified short and medium-term priorities to accelerate human capital for increased future productivity and economic growth, and enable green, resilient, and inclusive development. The meeting also discussed World Bank support for some of these priorities, building on ongoing projects and leveraging international good practices.

The Department of National Planning (NPD) coming under the purview of the Ministry of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development and Youth Affairs (MNPEA) organized workshops with the objective of enhancing the capacity of government officials to prepare informative, complete and detailed project proposals by means of streamlining the Public Investment Program (PIP) on 2nd and 5th July 2019 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. In both these workshops, over 200 officials were actively participated and contributed throughout the workshop representing line ministries, relevant agencies and institutes. This event was the second of the workshop series to disseminate and to equip officials engage in preparation of project proposals with necessary tools and techniques on the effective application of “Guidelines for Submitting Project Proposals” and the revised project format, which were introduced on January 2019 by the NPD. The first event, the inaugural workshop for high-level government officials including ministerial secretaries, was conducted on February 21, 2019. Mr. S.S. Mudalige, Director General of the NPD in his opening remarks mentioned “Strengthening the capacity of government officials and provisioning of guidance for them to prepare informative and persuasive project proposals” is as the key objective of the workshop. As stakeholders of the country’s development, preparation of strategic and results-oriented project proposals that meet the needs of the targeted population is essential. Having such proposals, it will ensure sustained and inclusive economic growth within the limited available resource envelop while fulfilling the requirements of development initiatives at the global context such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Further, the NPD wishes to extend its support whenever stakeholders need a hand by continuing similar type of workshops in collaboration with the JICA.

Department of National Planning coming under the purview of the Ministry of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development, Vocational Training & Skills Development and Youth Affairs (MNPEA) organized the Inaugural Workshop on New Project Submission Format for Development Project Proposals on February 21, 2019 at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. The aim of the workshop is to officially launch and raise awareness on the newly introduced the Operational Manual on “Guidelines for submitting Development Project Proposals for Public Investment” and the new project submission format, which has already been dispatched to ministries as per the Circular No. MNPEA 02/2019 dated January 10th, 2019. Around, 54 senior officials have been participated at this workshop representing line ministries, relevant institutes and agencies. The Department of National Planning, announced that the department will organize the series of follow-up workshops for relevant ministries and agencies during coming months to support the preparation of project proposals with new format.

The Department of National Planning organized a full day workshop for the officers who involve in development planning in all ministries and provincial councils dividing them into three groups on the theme of “Strategic Project Preparation” in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on 14th, 21st and 28th of September 2018. The objectives of this workshop were to introduce the revised project submission format and further enhance the competence of officials in strategic project preparation and appraisal through the practical sessions. Total number of 170 officials from 41 line ministries and 9 provincial councils participated in the workshop. The workshop was consisted of theoretical session on planning related terminologies and practical session on identifying key project components using given case studies. The workshop successfully concluded giving vast knowledge and experience in preparation of comprehensive project proposal.

The SASEC Trade Facilitation and Transport Working Group Meeting was held in Colombo on 07th and 08th February 2017 to review the progress of ongoing SASEC Projects in transport and trade facilitation, discuss and seek to endorse SASEC vision document and update the SASEC Operational Plan (2016-2025). Delegates from the Governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and staff and consultants of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) participated in the meeting. Mr. Sanjaya Mudalige, Director General, Department of National Planning and SASEC Nodal Official for Sri Lanka, chaired the meeting. Mr. Hun Kim, Director General, South Asia Department, ADB, co-chaired the meeting. Hon. Niroshan Perera, State Minister of the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs was the chief guest in the opening session and gave the inaugural address. Hon. State Minister stated the shift of global economic growth and influence toward Asia, and the opportunity for the SASEC regional partnership will create a level playing field for all members to benefit in terms of development outcomes. Mr. M.I.M.Rafeek, Secretary of the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, and Mr. Hun Kim delivered welcome and opening remarks.