The 14th Implementation Support Mission of the CSIAP commences at PMU

The World Bank Officials from various fields arrived in the Project Management Unit this morning (02nd) to commence the 14^th Implementation Support Mission of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP). The main objective of this mission, which takes place from 01^st to 11^th April 2025, is to evaluate the project's physical and financial progress. In addition, the mission will: (i) check the status of critical actions from previous missions including the farmer-level database; (ii) evaluate readiness to close all activities by December 31, 2025; (iii) assess the need for partial cancellation; (iv) introduce new World Bank colleagues to the team and counterparts; (v) examine progress on activities supporting the new Integrated Urban Development and Climate Resilience Project; and (vi) initiate preparation of the Bank’s and Borrower’s Implementation Completion Report.

The mission team is led by Dr. Sheu Salau (Senior Agriculture Economist/Task Team Leader (TTL) for the CSIAP) and include Ms. Thiruni Liyanage (Co-TTL /Water Resources Management Specialist), Dr. Athula Senaratne (Senior Agriculture Specialist), Ms. Heenaben Yatin Doshi (Senior Procurement Specialist), Ms. Anula Harasgama (Senior Financial Management Specialist), Ms. Nadeera Rajapakse (Environmental Specialist), Mr. Shanek Fernando (Social Development Specialist), Mr. Seenithamby Manoharan (Senior Consultant, Agriculture and Rural Development), Mr. Udara Wijeratne ( Information Systems and Digital Agriculture Consultant), Jagath Seneviratne (Monitoring & Evaluation Consultant), Mr. Sanjiva Rodrigo (Value Chain and Agribusiness Consultant), Mr. Ganesh Jayantha (Social Safeguard Consultant) and Ms. Sithara Atapattu (Environmental Safeguard Consultant)  and Ms. Saumya Srivastava (Agriculture Specialist and CSIAP ICR Author) also join the mission.

During this period, the team intends to meet with relevant staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, and Irrigation; Department of Agriculture; Department of Agrarian Development; Department of External Resources; National Planning Department; Chief Secretaries of the North Central, Northwestern, Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Uva Provincial Councils; Project Management Unit; and six provincial Deputy Project Directors (DPDs). In addition, the team will conduct a field visit in Eastern, Northern and North Central Provinces. The CSIAP team led by Project Director Mr. Samana Bandulasena and Provincial Deputy Directors, Subject Specialists and Officers attended this meeting.

Photographs by Gayani Dassanayake, PMU, CSIAP