Sri Lanka's AI Plan for Digital Economy Expansion

Published Date : 7/30/2025 

Sri Lanka is developing an elaborate AI strategy to boost its digital economy fivefold over the next five years. The plan includes automating government services and ensuring inclusive outcomes. 

Sri Lanka is focusing on creating a robust artificial intelligence (AI) strategy to achieve a fivefold increase in its digital economy over the next five years, as underscored by Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy.

At a recent discussion, he highlighted that AI is crucial for augmenting the country’s competitive advantage and should be inclusive, benefiting all sectors of society rather than just a select few.

The initial application of AI will be applied in the Government Information Centre (GIC), aiming to automate information delivery to citizens through a voice-driven system. This project is planned to ensure data safety and privacy while enhancing public service efficiency. Dr. Wijayasuriya also stated plans to utilize AI for automating repetitive government procedures, and to increase the digital economy’s contribution to GDP from 3-5% to 15% through an “AI-first” approach.

Another safe area we are working on is automatic speech recognition as well as text-to-speech translation, which brings in the language element to the fore, explained Wijayasuriya. Having an equally enabled environment for Sinhala, Tamil, and English is important to ensure that exploitation of AI results in inclusive outcomes and that it will not lead to an expansion of the gap between those who use technology and those who don’t.

It is important that principles of inclusion are applied and are foremost in our minds as we start exploring these technologies, he added.

He highlighted the transformative potential of AI when combined with fitting regulations that prioritize inclusion and responsible use. The initiative will leverage various advanced technologies, including satellite and drone data, the Internet of Things, and cloud computing, to nurture economic growth. Dr. Wijayasuriya reiterated that AI is a foundational element of the country’s digital strategy, integrating it across all infrastructure layers, including both public services and private sector operations. He emphasized the magnitude of creating a trustworthy environment for AI use, ensuring that its benefits are accessible to the entire population. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is Sri Lanka's goal with its AI strategy?

A: Sri Lanka aims to achieve a fivefold increase in its digital economy over the next five years through a robust AI strategy.

Q: How will AI be initially applied in Sri Lanka?

A: AI will be initially applied in the Government Information Centre (GIC) to automate information delivery to citizens through a voice-driven system.

Q: What is the expected impact on the GDP?

A: The digital economy’s contribution to GDP is expected to increase from 3-5% to 15% through an ‘AI-first’ approach.

Q: What technologies will be leveraged in the AI initiative?

A: The initiative will leverage satellite and drone data, the Internet of Things, and cloud computing to nurture economic growth.

Q: How will the AI strategy ensure inclusivity?

A: Principles of inclusion will be applied to ensure that the benefits of AI are accessible to all, with a focus on creating an equally enabled environment for Sinhala, Tamil, and English. 

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