In Asia: Weekly Insight and Features from Asia

Colombo is shedding its image as Sri Lanka’s charming but dilapidated capital. Pulsing with new energy and growth, major investments and improvement is palpable since the end of the war. But in the North and East and bordering regions, clashes, attacks, and decades of economic neglect have left a legacy of division and hardship. The government has responded by linking these cities through improved roads, rail, and telecommunications; business owners and local leaders want to catch up with the rest of the island nation. Entrepreneurs and local officials hold the keys to growth and peace in these former conflict-affected towns. This new slideshow series shows how The Asia Foundation is working in Jaffna, Vavuniya, and Batticaloa to spark private sector growth by helping local governments and businesses work together.