Protecting the vulnerable is critical in overcoming crisis - World Bank

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The World Bank on Thursday (6) announced that debt restructuring and the implementation of a deep reform program are critical for Sri Lanka’s economic stabilization.

Sri Lanka’s real GDP is expected to fall by 9.2 percent this year and a further 4.2 percent in 2023, said the World Bank in its twice-a-year update, underscoring the need for Sri Lanka to build resilience.

Beset with Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, Pakistan’s catastrophic floods, a global slowdown, and impacts of the war in Ukraine, South Asia faces an unprecedented combination of shocks on top of the lingering scars of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the World Bank in a statement titled "Unprecedented Shocks Rattle South Asia, Exacerbating Challenges and Dampening Growth."

“Protecting the vulnerable is critical as Sri Lanka fast tracks deep reforms to navigate the deepening economic crisis.The crisis calls for immediate action to protect the poorest and most in need while also focusing on strengthening the social protection system,” said Faris H. Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. 

“In the face of the economic crisis, poverty estimates doubled to 25.6 percent between 2021 and 2022, increasing the number of people living in poverty by 2.7 million. Sri Lanka will need to expand employment in industry and services and recover real value of incomes to mitigate the impacts of the crisis, and build long-term resilience of its people. ” added Hadad-Zervos underscoring the need for a coordinated approach to support the poor and vulnerable.  

“As Sri Lanka goes through the historically largest contraction in its economy, looking at global experiences such as the crisis in Latin America in the 1980s and the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 can help chart solutions,” said Hans Timmer, World Bank Chief Economist for South Asia. “The East and Southeast Asian countries regained momentum by implementing sound reforms, which provide lessons for Sri Lanka to build back better.”

To this end, the spotlight highlights two key experiences of the Asian financial crisis as lessons for Sri Lanka. Firstly, the short-term measures needed to address structural weaknesses, buffers to mitigate external shocks and build resilience to future shocks. Secondly, critical policies to promote future growth.