New World Bank appointments including new SL country manager

The World Bank, in twin announcements on Wednesday, said that Faris Hadad-Zervos is the World Bank’s new Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka with effect from July 1. 
Based in the sub-regional office in Kathmandu, Nepal, he will lead World Bank support to Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, overseeing the current total portfolio of around $5.5 billion.
Meanwhile Chiyo Kanda has been appointed as the World Bank’s new Country Manager for Sri Lanka. She will oversee a total portfolio of around $2.3 billion and the development of a new country partnership framework, and be based in Colombo. 
Japanese national Ms. Kanda’s appointment comes at a time when the Government of Sri Lanka is working to address both the immediate and longer-term health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.
“Sri Lanka has managed to limit the spread of COVID-19 quite effectively so far. It is now critical to kickstart economic recovery and protect people’s jobs and livelihoods,” she said, adding: “My priority is to build on the strong partnership with the Sri Lankan government and its people as we work together to prepare the next country partnership framework to support Sri Lanka’s development.”
Mr. Hadad-Zervos succeeds Ms. Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough, who will be taking on a new World Bank assignment. He previously served as the World Bank Country Manager for Nepal. 
The World Bank is supporting the governments of Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka through COVID-19 emergency response projects totaling over $350 million to help the countries prevent, detect and respond to the pandemic and strengthen public health preparedness.