Colombo to host SAARC Development Fund board meeting 

The 31st board meeting of the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) is scheduled to take place in Colombo on 23 and 24 August.

CEO of SDF Dr. Sunil Motiwal met Sri Lanka’s Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera, who expressed continued support for SDF, and its role in boosting regional connectivity and economic cooperation.


The chief objective of the board meeting is to discuss issues and ideas to promote further regional integration and economic cooperation among the eight member states, which include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Motiwal also met other officials from the Ministry of Finance including Director General of the External Resources Department R. M. P. Ratnayake to discuss SDF’s ongoing partnership and future plans.

SDF is a regional funding institution for SAARC programmes and projects, and is based in Thimphu, Bhutan. Some of its ongoing projects are focussed on developing and strengthening livelihoods, maternal and child health, agricultural and post-harvest management technology, and empowering rural communities.