World Bank : Public Consultations to Inform the Systematic Country Diagnostic in Sri Lanka

The World Bank Group is currently carrying out consultations to inform and update the Systematic Country Diagnostic (SCD) for Sri Lanka.

A Systematic Country Diagnostic (SCD) informs each new Country Partnership Framework (CPF). The aim of the SCD is to identify the most important challenges and opportunities a country faces in advancing towards the twin goals- eradicating extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. This is derived from a thorough analysis, and informed by consultations with a range of stakeholders.

The first SCD for Sri Lanka was conducted in 2015. It identified five major challenges that needed to be addressed in order for the country to maintain its momentum on the twin goals and realize its full growth potential. They were:

1. Fiscal vulnerabilities

2. Fostering growth and jobs for the bottom 40 percent

3. Social inclusion

4. Governance issues

5. Sustainability

The constraints identified in the 2015 SCD still prevent Sri Lanka from attaining faster and more inclusive growth, and take more decisive action to alleviate poverty and achieve shared prosperity. The 2021 SCD will be an update on the previous SCD, taking into account the new and pressing issues stemming from the unprecedented health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The World Bank Group is currently carrying out public consultations to help update, validate and prioritize the development challenges identified by the previous SCD in Sri Lanka. National and district level consultations are being conducted with representatives from public and private sectors, as well as civil society organizations to collectively think through the challenges and opportunities for Sri Lanka.

The focus group discussions will be complemented by online surveys that are open for the general public. From May 6 - 20, 2021, all Sri Lankans are invited to share their views on:

• Improving fiscal stability
• Enhancing competition in order to promote productivity and job development
• Improving social integration to reduce poverty and promote shared prosperity
• Addressing economic, social, and environmental challenges to ensure long-term sustainability

You can lend your voice to this important discussion by participating in this survey, conducted in English, Sinhala and Tamil.

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Last Updated: May 06, 2021