Sri Lankan President seeks India's help to improve economic growth

New Delhi, April 4: Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe sought India's help in policy reforms, utilisation of digital technology, capacity building, good governance, and institution building to address the recent economic challenges faced by the country and to put it on the path of high economic growth.

The Indian delegation called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe on April 1, 2023, during its two-day visit to the neighbouring country at the invitation of the Sri Lankan Government. Director General NCGG was accompanied by the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Bagley, Dr A P Singh, Associate Professor of NCGG and other senior diplomats of the Mission.

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During the meeting, President Wickremesinghe shared his vision for Sri Lanka, a strategy to address the recent economic challenges and put the country on the path of high economic growth.

India’s and Sri Lanka discussed about centred policy reforms, good governance , digitalistaion, capacity building and training, institution building, and assured public service delivery. 

Sri Lankan President furthermore admired the way India managed socio-economic development and ensured high economic growth.

Highlighting India’s growth, Gujarat experienced double-digit economic growth over the past two decades. Thereafter, since 2014, as Prime Minister, he has introduced a new culture of citizen-centric policies and good governance, and as a result, India is witnessing high economic growth, assured public service delivery and fast improving quality of life of its citizens.

During the discussion, the statement says, Lankan President requested that the NCGG extend the necessary help to Sri Lanka based on India's experience of digital governance and participatory policymaking to ensure faster socio-economic development and high economic growth.

Notably, Sri Lanka is keen to learn policy-driven governance model of India and massive use of digital technology in the planning, execution, and monitoring of various programmes and projects.

During the discussion, Bharat Lal also spoke about the Prime Minister’s mantra  of 'neighbourhood first' and highlighted the special relationship India - Sri Lanka have. He also stressed the critical role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and vision, as well as his emphasis on good governance, in ensuring efficient, effective, and technology-driven public service delivery.

The Indian delegation emphasized the positive impact of digital technology in promoting transparency, equity, inclusion, and accountability.

Digitalization has made a significant difference in the implementation of various developmental programs and the provision of public services, as evidenced by the recent growth in both direct and indirect taxes.

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Notably, the NCGG was set up in 2014 by the Government of India as an apex-level autonomous institution to focus on good governance, policy reforms, training, and capacity building of civil servants of the country as well as of other developing countries. NCGG also works as a think tank. It has taken up capacity building of civil servants of several developing countries in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.