UN Development Chief for Asia and UN Assistant Secretary-General Haoliang Xu met with the Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake this morning, Government Information Department said.

At the meeting Xu and the Minister discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation with the UN system, moving forward, and exploring prospects of government cost sharing.

During the six day visit to the country, Xu will also meet and exchange views with other high-level Government officials, development partners and the civil society on learning more about the emerging development needs and expectations of Sri Lanka in a new political environment whilst ascertaining the future direction of UNDP support along with other members of the UN family, in particular strengthening UNDP’s role as a key development partner in Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, Xu will also undertake a visit to North Central and Northern provinces, where he will meet with Government officials, representatives from Community Based Organizations and beneficiaries and gain a first-hand understanding of the development priorities in the districts and further support needs. He will also visit UNDP supported livelihood development projects on the ground in these provinces, the Government Information Department also said.