Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the emphasis on evaluation in governance, accountability, and policy-making is a positive trend.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the Evaluation Conclave 2025 and the summit for the Future of Evaluation held on May 27, at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel, Colombo.
Addressing the event, the Prime Minister stated that the increasing emphasis on evaluation in governance, accountability, and policy-making is a positive trend, and that it is a pleasure to witness the diverse participation at the event.
Highlighting the summit as a platform for a wide range of stakeholders including governments, the United Nations, Members of Parliament, civil society, and youth, the Prime Minister emphasized that when development processes fail, the consequences may address not only financial but also impact lives, livelihoods, and opportunities, and the evaluation for development is of utmost importance.
The Prime Minister further noted that evaluating across the full cycle of policies and programs provides the opportunity to identify risks early, assess progress, and implement necessary corrections.
Moreover, while pointing out the evaluation serves as a foundation for strengthening outcomes in sectors such as education, health, economy, climate, and human activity, ultimately leading to better results for both people and the environment, the Prime Minister stated that such evaluation also helps understanding the effectiveness of policies through reliable evidence. The Prime Minister further highlighted that the evaluation is not only about identifying successes but also about pointing out weaknesses in policy planning and implementation, particularly in addressing issues related to justice and inclusion.
Highlighting the importance of building institutional capacities, ensuring timely access to reliable data, and promoting a governance culture that values evidence and continuous learning in order to strengthen evaluation systems, the Prime Minister also pointed out that evaluation mechanisms provide governments with the opportunity to assess the outcomes of their actions and determine whether they are meeting the intended needs.
The event was attended by Kabir Hashim, Chair of the Global Parliamentarians Forum for Evaluation; Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhantri; Chair of the Community of Evaluators for South Asia, Dr. Rajib Nandi; Director General of the Independent Evaluation Office of the BRICS New Development Bank, Ashwani Muthoo; and the Director of the UNFPA Independent Evaluation Office, Marco Segone along with a number of young and emerging evaluators.
Prime Minister’s Media Division