High-level discussions were held at the Presidential Secretariat regarding plans to develop Colombo Fort as a tourism zone with World Bank financial support, while preserving the site's historical significance.

Officials from the World Bank met with Sri Lankan government representatives at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday to discuss the proposed development of Colombo Fort as a tourism destination. The meeting brought together World Bank Country Manager Gevorg Sargsyan and other senior World Bank officials with Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi to review progress on the project.

The discussions centered on earlier proposals outlined during a meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, which emphasized the need to balance tourism development at Colombo Fort with the preservation of its historical heritage. Participants explored how the World Bank could support this initiative through loans and financial assistance.

Beyond the Colombo Fort project, World Bank representatives indicated their willingness to provide broader support across multiple sectors of the Sri Lankan economy. They signaled readiness to assist with achieving national objectives in agriculture, port operations and logistics services, and energy development. The discussions also highlighted potential opportunities for expanding nature-based tourism offerings and developing tourism infrastructure in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

According to the President's Media Division, these discussions form part of a wider strategy to strengthen Sri Lanka's tourism sector by leveraging the country's historical sites, natural attractions, and regional advantages. The World Bank delegation included Stephan Massing, Senior Operations Officer, and Asela Dissanayake in an operations capacity.