Sri Lanka, June 30 -- Outgoing World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough said that although Sri Lanka has many human development indicators that are well above its regional neighbors, COVID-19 poses a threat to some of these gains.

Speaking about the highlights of her four years in Colombo she said that the country will therefore need to continue its concerted focus in these areas, while adjusting to a new normal.

Increasing fiscal space, managing debt and furthering competitiveness and trade too would be a challenge for Sri Lanka as well as many other countries.

"With a population that is rapidly ageing and women living longer than men, there is a need to re-evaluate the country's socia...