Chiyo Kanda

Country Manager for Maldives and Sri Lanka – World Bank

Q: How would you define ‘good governance’ – and how does Sri Lanka measure up to it, in your opinion?

A: Good governance is fundamental for development as it represents the capacity of governments to use public resources, and deliver services efficiently and effectively. It needs institutions, systems and human resources that provide clear rules, along with checks and balances and grievance redress mechanisms.

Transparency and access to information for the public, integrity of the political environment, respect for the rule of law and effective judiciary systems are important ingredients to ensure good governance.

Modernising public institutions and embracing digital solutions can streamline services, enhance transparency and fortify the fight against corruption.

Having faced significant challenges – including the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis – Sri Lanka has embarked on essential reforms in the past two years to steer the economy back on track.

For many development challenges faced by the country, there are underlining governance issues to address.

By establishing a governance framework that prioritises transparency and accountability, and fosters open communication with civil society, Sri Lanka can transform its development trajectory towards a future of resilient, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Q: What role does citizen participation play in promoting good governance? And how can we encourage the public to play a part in this?

A: Citizen participation is at the core of creating more transparent, accountable and effective public institutions, and demand accountability from public officials. When citizens are involved, their perspectives and needs help shape more effective and fair policies.

A prime example was Sri Lanka’s people movement – the aragalaya – in 2022, which was driven by the public’s demand for systemic change and better management of the country’s economy.

Such grassroots movements hold policymakers and government officials accountable, prompting them to improve governance and policies to be more responsive to the public.

Not only in times of crisis, promoting greater citizen engagement on a regular basis is even more critical.

To that end, it’s vital to establish open avenues for communication that facilitate coordination across local, regional and national levels, educate the public of their civic rights and duties, and nurture trust between government and its people.