Sri Lankan official underscores importance of leadership and infrastructure in rural rationalization

On October 31, 2024, the Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum convened in Beijing, China, under the theme "Jointly Promoting Poverty Reduction and Building Beautiful and Harmonious Villages."

At the forum, Arjuna Wickramasinghe, Commissioner from Sri Lanka’s Department of Agrarian Development, shared his insights during an exclusive interview with Guangming Online.

Speaking on the topic of rural revitalization, Wickramasinghe reflected on his firsthand experience learning about and observing China’s rural revitalization efforts in 2023. He participated in the Seminar on Poverty Eradication and Rural Revitalization for Countries around the Indian Ocean, hosted by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) of the People's Republic of China and organized by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC). Drawing from the insights gained during the seminar and his interactions with participants from 18 countries, Wickramasinghe highlighted the significance of leadership commitment, cross-country learning, and adopting practical, people-centered approaches to achieve sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

Wickramasinghe emphasized that China’s remarkable success in poverty alleviation and rural revitalization is largely attributed to the strong leadership and dedication of President Xi Jinping. This unwavering commitment illustrates the critical role of continuous monitoring and oversight by leaders and officials in ensuring the success of development initiatives. He concluded that these valuable lessons underscore the need for Sri Lanka to adopt similar practices in its pursuit of sustainable rural development.