ADB-backed $100 million social protection programme to be rolled out in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka will launch a 100-million-dollar Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded development program aimed at strengthening social safety nets, livelihoods, and care services for vulnerable groups.

The Macro-Recovery Sector Development Program for Promoting Resilience and Inclusive Economic Opportunities will run from November 2026 to October 2031 across Kegalle, Matale, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Batticaloa, and Nuwara Eliya districts.

Financed via a concessional loan from the ADB, the initiative seeks to address economic vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate impacts.

“Around 56 percent of the country’s population faces multi-dimensional vulnerabilities, which severely impact women, youth, elderly citizens, persons with disabilities, and rural as well as estate communities,” Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs told journalists.

The project will operate under policy and investment components across three core areas.

Entrepreneurship training, market access, financial linkage will be provided, and 30,000 selected Aswesuma families will receive a seed capital grant of 200,000 rupees, in two installments.

New regulations, along with training for care workers, as well as five elderly day-care centers will be established for elderly care.

A Social Protection Plan will be created to reform the system.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the implementation proposal submitted by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment.