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Sri Lanka to start National AI Fund
Sri Lanka is launching a National AI Fund with an initial investment of Rs 100 million (US$ 333,000) aimed at nurturing local innovation and adding significantly to the US$15 billion digital economy targeted by 2030, according to a report published by Biometric Update.
Sri Lanka is aiming for a fivefold growth in its digital economy over the next five years, with a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) as an essential element of its growth strategy.
AI is projected to generate between US$1.5 to US$1.8 billion, representing 10-12 percent of the digital economy, Dr. Mothilal de Silva, Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), said at the launch of Sri Lanka’s first AI Expo & Conference 2025 in Colombo, organised in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Huawei. The event is designed to position Sri Lanka as a leader in the global AI landscape.
Dr. de Silva noted that SLT-Mobitel’s shift from a traditional telecommunications provider to a technology enabler, leveraging its wide infrastructure. This infrastructure, which includes a nationwide fiber network and a 5G-ready Mobitel network, is critical for the implementation of real-time AI applications and supports scalable development through AI-upgradable data centres and cloud solutions.
“The question is not whether AI will transform the world, but if Sri Lanka will lead or follow,” said Dr. de Silva.
The AI Expo, scheduled for September 29 and 30, will feature international experts from major tech companies and stage live demonstrations of AI applications across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and agriculture. To endorse accessibility, mini expos will also be held in several cities, including Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Galle, and Kandy.
Dr. de Silva called for partnerships among the government, private sector, and academia to collectively change Sri Lanka into an innovative and responsible AI leader.
Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, the Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy, told Biometric Update in June that a national AI policy draft is in the works, and that an advisory committee on AI is currently focusing both on future direction and strategy, infrastructure regulation, policy, guardrails and protection, along with the rights of citizens in an AI era.
“When harnessed alongside guardrails which give primacy for inclusion and responsible application, AI has the potential to deliver profound and transformational outcomes for Digital Economy acceleration and Public Service delivery,” Dr. Wijayasuriya said.
News
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 to purchase four (04) automated passenger clearance gates for Bandaranayake International Airport.
In addition, it is expected to extend the automated passenger clearance gates facility so far given only to the Sri Lankans
parallel to the e – passport issuance system to be introduced in the year 2027 also to the foreigners who travel to and from this country.
Furthermore, considering also the number of air passengers rapidly increasing with the fast – forwarding business and tourism field, the appropriateness to increase the total automated passenger clearance gates up to twelve (12) in number has been recognized.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers, approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to initiate the procurement and installation of 12
automated passenger clearance gates altogether with the already approved four (04) and another eight (08) automated passenger clearance gates adhering to the formal procurement procedure
Based on the observations submitted by the Task Force on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing for Terrorism, approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 18.12.2024 to amend the Trust Ordinance No. 9 of 1917 including amendments proposed by the Financial
Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the Trust (Amendment) Draft Bill formulated by the Legal Draftsman.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Justice and National Integration
to publish the said draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby, submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Action was taken to provide a fuel relief for the fuel consumers during the months of April, May and June of 2026 to redress by minimizing the impact caused to the day today life of the citizens of this country as well as the entire economy due to the price hike of petroleum fuel in the global market resulting from the war situation in the Middle East.
Government mediation is essential for minimizing the impact on the day to today life of citizens in this country due to that war situation not being ended further. Therefore, it has been planned to redress on the sale price for Auto Diesel and Industrial Diesel for a period of 03 months by the Government to provide relief to the public as well as to maintain the prices at a bearable level to the consumers without escalating the fuel prices in this country compared to the escalation of fuel prices
in the international market.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to
allocate provisions subject to the monthly limitations respectively as rupees 15 billion for the month of October, rupees 13.5 billion for the month of November and rupees 12.15 billion for the month of December to provide the said relief
Cabinet nod to increase the number of new automated passenger clearance gates at the Bandaranayake International Airport to 12
Draft Bill for amending the Trust Ordinance
Implementing further relief programme to Public sffected by the Middle East conflict situation
Establishment of a Spectrum Management and Monitoring System and a Quality of Service and Quality of Experience System for the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka
Appointment of a Committee for the Restitution of Sri Lankan Cultural Heritage Held Abroad
Ten-Year National Action Plan on the Social Protection Sector (2026–2035)
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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