ADB approves $300 million for Sri Lanka’s water and sanitation sector

Daily Mirror, Newswire, EconomyNext and Newsfirst report that the Asian Development Bank approved a $98 million loan for Sri Lanka’s digital transformation. EconomyNext names it the Advancing Digital Transformation Project and says it will extend broadband service, modernize government data systems, reinforce cybersecurity and data safeguards, and develop digital capabilities among public employees.

EconomyNext says the project is also intended to make online government services more accessible to residents and businesses, with particular attention to women and underserved groups. The outlet reports an additional $1 million technical-assistance grant for project planning, design and agency capacity building. EconomyNext attributes comments about the project’s role in inclusive growth and productivity to ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka Shannon Cowlin. It says rural and other underserved locations have less consistent access to fast broadband, and that the project follows the government’s National Digital Economy Blueprint.

Daily Mirror, Newswire, Ada Derana and Newsfirst report ADB approval of $300 million for two Sri Lankan water supply and sanitation projects. Daily Mirror says the projects are expected to improve access to safe, dependable drinking water for more than 1.3 million people. Newsfirst describes water-service vulnerability in the context of supply disruptions, infrastructure failures and extreme weather, and says climate change is adding pressure to essential services.

EconomyNext, Hiru News and Newswire report that Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approved a $200 million ADB loan for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. EconomyNext says it will fund the first sub-program of a wider sector development initiative designed to strengthen inclusive financing for these businesses. The loan has two $100 million components: policy-based financing and financial intermediation. EconomyNext reports repayment periods of 12 years and 15 years, respectively, with grace periods of three years and five years.

EconomyNext reports that formal negotiations for the $200 million facility had concluded. It places the financing within a framework approved on March 16, 2026, allowing negotiations for as much as $620 million across five sub-programs to support reforms associated with Sri Lanka’s IMF Extended Fund Facility. According to EconomyNext, Cabinet spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa said the larger amount had been approved and that disbursement would depend on negotiations and the case presented. The reports give no further schedule for the three financing initiatives.