Addressing the 54th Annual Meeting of ADB, he said Asia is known for its resilience and leading even during the current pandemic, the region is “leading the growth story of the World.”

Amid unprecedented loss in human lives and economic disruption, he said, “Our policy solutions must be environmentally and socially sustainable. "We must preserve our way of life for future generations.” Collective cooperation is needed to address the common issues," he added.

Backing transition to a green economy, he stressed that the ADB must “lead the way in supporting member countries for the transition.” He further added, “There should be a new approach to ensure that access to resources is better managed.”

Rajapaksa, in his address, also lauded the efforts the ADB has taken so far to mitigate the pandemic effects, including financial assistance to countries for procurement vaccines.