A meeting was held at the Presidential Secretariat between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and a high-level delegation of the Bill Gates Foundation, led by Dr. Chris Elias, Head of the Global Development Division of the Bill Gates Foundation.
A number of important issues related to the development of Sri Lanka were discussed, with special attention being paid to issues such as agricultural modernization, food and nutrition, digital infrastructure and integrating the rural community with new technologies.
Dr. Elias briefed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the Inclusive Digital Agriculture Transformation program, a flagship program that the Bill Gates Foundation is seeking to implement in the country, and pointed out that it is important for supporting data-based decision-making in the agricultural sector and also for providing services to small-scale farmers.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that this program reflects the commitment of both parties to agricultural modernization and improving the living standards of the rural community, as well as sustainable development.
The President appreciated the expertise and experience that the Bill Gates Foundation has gained by facing challenges in implementing development projects in low and middle income countries.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake requested the Foundation to support the effort to integrate the rural community in this country with modern global technology, and expressed his gratitude for its cooperation with Sri Lanka.
Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Senior Advisor to the President on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijesuriya, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage and Gates Foundation’s South and Southeast Asia Regional Representative Dr. Jamal Khan, Director of Programs, Consulting, Communications, Growth, and Opportunities Archana Vyas, Director of Enterprise Data Solutions Thushan Wijesinghe and Chairman of Connect To Care Organization Chanditha Samaranayake participated in the event.