A press conference was conducted to present the strategic vision for the 44th National IT Conference (NITC), which aims to align Sri Lanka’s digital transformation with a focus on people and innovation. This event brought together key stakeholders from various sectors, including industry, government, academia, and the broader ICT community, emphasizing a united effort to develop a Human-Centric Digital Economy in line with Society 5.0 principles.
The conference, themed “Human-Centric Skills Towards Society 5.0: Powering Sri Lanka’s Digital Economy,” is designed to stimulate national discussions and actions aimed at fostering inclusive digital growth, equipping individuals with future-ready skills, promoting innovation, and facilitating sustainable economic changes. The initiative underscores the necessity of centering digital advancements around individuals to enhance lives, create opportunities, and bolster national competitiveness.
During the briefing, Heshan Karunarathne, President of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL), articulated that merely adopting technology will not suffice for Sri Lanka’s digital future; empowerment of the populace is crucial. He noted that Society 5.0 offers a major opportunity to merge advanced technologies with human values to address the pressing social and economic issues facing the nation. He also pointed out that digital literacy, accessibility, and ongoing skill development are vital components for achieving sustainable digital transformation.
Indika De Zoysa, Conference Chair and Vice President, elaborated that the 44th NITC serves as a strategic national forum for policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and academic representatives to converge around a common digital vision for Sri Lanka. He mentioned that the conference seeks to go beyond mere dialogue, aiming to produce actionable outcomes that will promote long-term economic and technological progress.
He further asserted that human-centric skills will be foundational to the future digital economy of Sri Lanka, where collaboration between individuals and intelligent technologies will create economic and social benefits. Additionally, he highlighted the necessity for a stronger synergy between educational systems, vocational training, and industry needs to cultivate a workforce that is digitally adept, adaptable, and driven by innovation.
The briefing also pointed out that Sri Lanka’s digital economy has the potential to serve as a significant engine for national growth, contributing to economic recovery, productivity, entrepreneurship, and global competitiveness. Emphasis was placed on emerging sectors such as FinTech, EduTech, MedTech, TravelTech, InfoSec, eGovernment, and AgriTech, which are anticipated to be instrumental in driving digital innovation and generating new opportunities across various industries.
Speakers highlighted the necessity of trust, cybersecurity, ethical governance, and data protection as fundamental elements for promoting digital adoption nationwide. As Sri Lanka transitions to a more interconnected and data-centric society, establishing robust policy frameworks and secure digital environments is essential for building public trust and ensuring sustainable progress.
The 44th NITC is positioned as a national platform for collaboration, aiming to unite government entities, private sector companies, academic institutions, startups, and youth communities. The conference aspires to foster meaningful partnerships that can transform ideas into actionable implementations and enhance Sri Lanka’s overall digital landscape.
Discussions at the conference will be organized around several strategic areas, including FinTech, EduTech, MedTech, TravelTech, InfoSec, GovTech, and AgriTech. These areas will focus on discovering innovation opportunities, tackling specific sector challenges, and examining how human-centric digital transformation can facilitate inclusive national development.
The press briefing also recognized the contributions of sponsors and strategic partners supporting the conference and Sri Lanka’s broader digital transformation initiatives. The Ministry of Digital Economy has joined as the National Partner, with Mastercard as the Strategic Partner and Connect to Care as the Knowledge Partner. South Asian Technologies and DMS Technologies are participating as Diamond Sponsors, while Huawei is the Platinum Sponsor. Commscope and Aiken are supporting as Gold Sponsors.
Collaboration within the industry is further reinforced through partnerships with FITIS, BCS, ISACA, and SLASSCOM, along with Independent Television Network (ITN) serving as the Electronic Media Partner. Additional support is provided by Prime Event Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, Visual Art and Experiences Group (VAEG), and Veloce Technology (Pvt) Ltd in their respective roles as Event Partner, Design Partner, and Technology Partner.
The briefing concluded with a strong assertion that Sri Lanka’s digital success will hinge not just on technological infrastructure and innovation, but also on how effectively the nation can equip its people with the necessary skills, access, and opportunities. Through the 44th NITC and the Society 5.0 vision, CSSL aspires to contribute to the development of a digitally empowered, inclusive, and globally competitive Sri Lanka, where human-centric transformation is central to national advancement.
