The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) successfully held the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) Policy Dialogue 2026 on 28 April 2026 at the Randora Auditorium, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The Meeting was co-chaired by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea.  The high-level meeting served as a critical platform to review the bilateral development partnership, address ongoing infrastructure projects, and formalize agreements following recent economic shifts.

A significant highlight of the dialogue was the formal Exchange of Signed Debt Restructuring Amendment Agreements for 18 EDCF Loans amount of approximately USD 267 million. This administrative milestone underscores the commitment of both nations to maintaining the momentum of development assistance amidst Sri Lanka's evolving economic landscape and debt restructuring process.

The session featured comprehensive presentations on Sri Lanka’s National Development Plan and the current status of debt restructuring, led by the Department of National Planning (NPD) and the Department of External Resources (ERD). In turn, the Korean delegation introduced the Framework Plan for International Development of ROK (2026-2030) and their Mid-Term Operational Direction, aligning Korea's Official Development Assistance with Sri Lanka’s recovery priorities.

The delegates engaged in detailed technical discussions regarding major projects currently supported by the EDCF financing.

The discussion on the extension of the current EDCF Framework Arrangement (F/A) entered in 2018, which provides the legal and financial foundation for Korean concessional loans to Sri Lanka, was also one of the key highlights of the dialogue.  The proceedings concluded with the signing of a Minutes of Dialogue (MOD), signaling a shared vision for future cooperation.

The Korean delegation was led by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF), including Mr.Byoungseok Choi and Ms. Myeonghui Hwang, alongside representatives from the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) headed by Director Daehee Kim. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, senior officials from various departments of Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the relevant line ministries and various Project Executing Agencies of the projects considered during the dialogue.