The press conference held today (05) marked the official launch of “Sri Lanka AI Week 2026,” a significant national effort aimed at enhancing the digital economic transformation of Sri Lanka and establishing the country as a center for Artificial Intelligence (AI). This flagship event, organized by the Ministry of Digital Economy in collaboration with GovTech Sri Lanka and SLT-MOBITEL, is set to take place from September 28 to October 4, 2026.
At the event, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne, introduced the official website for “Sri Lanka AI Week 2026.” In his keynote address, he discussed the evolution of human development from the Stone Age to the Information Age, leading into what he termed the “IQ Era.” He stressed the importance of Sri Lanka shifting from merely consuming global technologies to actively producing AI solutions. He underscored the need to empower the local IT industry with AI capabilities through research and development (R&D) to meet the national goal of generating US$5 billion in tech export revenue.
This year’s event builds on the success of the first National AI Exhibition and Summit held in 2025, expanding its scope with new regional and international partnerships. Titled “AI Amplified,” Sri Lanka AI Week 2026 will feature three key components: an International Conference that will highlight global trends and strategic insights, a Tech Exhibition showcasing innovative solutions from both local and international creators, and an Awards Ceremony celebrating the achievements of Sri Lankan innovators and researchers. The Deputy Minister also elaborated on the Ministry’s objective to democratize AI technology across the country, extending beyond Colombo, with the support of sovereign digital infrastructure through the DIGIECON 2030 and SLUDI initiatives, and plans to create a dedicated National AI Institute.
Dr. Mothilal de Silva, Chairman of the SLT Group, addressed the audience, proclaiming that 2026 will be a landmark year for AI transformation at SLT. He reiterated SLT-MOBITEL’s commitment to establishing Sri Lanka as a Regional AI Center, emphasizing the acceleration of 5G deployment, modernization of IP infrastructure, and enhancements to data centers to ensure they are AI-ready.
The gathering also included remarks from notable leaders such as Mr. Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL); Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy and Chairman of GovTech Sri Lanka; and Mr. Riyaaz Rasheed, CEO of SLT-MOBITEL. Furthermore, Mr. Theekshana Kumara, Founder of ‘Child Friendly Internet,’ highlighted the vital issues of online safety and child protection in the context of AI.
The event concluded with the launch of two significant sub-initiatives, ‘AI Hub’ and ‘SMART AI.’ Through collaborative efforts involving the Ministry of Digital Economy, GovTech, SLT-MOBITEL, academic institutions, innovators, and industry leaders, Sri Lanka AI Week 2026 aims to firmly position the nation as the leading AI technology hub in South Asia.
Financial Chronicle Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News.
