Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming the “new electricity” — a transformative force reshaping every sector much like electricity did a century ago, said Eranga Weeraratna, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, during his keynote at the National AI Expo and Conference held near Colombo.
Weeraratna described AI as a general-purpose technology silently powering smarter decisions, operational efficiency, and innovation across industries from healthcare to governance. Presenting the National AI Strategy: Contributing to Sri Lanka’s Digital Economy, he revealed that the government had partnered with Google to offer free access to its Student Offer, including Gemini Advance features, to enhance learning resources and technological exposure for Sri Lankan students.
He emphasized that Sri Lanka’s future depends on integrating AI and data literacy into the national curriculum and launching upskilling programmes to create an AI-ready workforce. “This progress must be inclusive — from the shop owner in Galle to the tech CEO in Colombo,” he said, highlighting the government’s focus on inclusivity, innovation incubators, and regulatory sandboxes that allow safe experimentation.
However, Weeraratna also cautioned about AI’s risks — from misinformation and deepfakes to cyberattacks. To address these, Sri Lanka has launched a National Cyber Security Operation Centre (NCSOC) and is developing a Defence Cyber Security Operation Centre to safeguard digital infrastructure. The Ethical AI Framework, part of the National AI Strategy, has been opened for public comment to ensure citizen participation in shaping governance.
During a panel discussion, Dr. Motilal de Silva, Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom, noted that AI projects must demonstrate measurable returns in customer service and productivity. He stressed that data quality and governance are key prerequisites for successful AI deployment, as “poor-quality data leads to unreliable insights.” He also pointed out that voice bots are more effective than chatbots in Sri Lanka, where most customer interactions happen via voice calls.
Meanwhile, Dr. Romesh Ranawana, Group Chief Analytics & AI Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC, highlighted that AI transformation requires cultural change and long-term commitment from all stakeholders, noting that “AI impact cannot be created overnight.”
Sri Lanka’s evolving AI roadmap signals its determination to integrate advanced technologies responsibly while building a digitally inclusive and economically resilient future.
