Mirror

– Sri Lanka’s total exports surpassed US$9 billion in the first half of 2026, reflecting promising economic indicators, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said.Addressing the 26th Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit (SLEIS) 2026 on October 13, the Prime Minister highlighted the Government’s plans to expand the digital economy, strengthen investment opportunities and prepare the workforce for emerging technologies.Speaking at a session on “Nation Building in the Digital Age”, she said the Government aimed to transform Sri Lanka from a consumer of technology into a creator of innovation.

The Government has set targets of expanding the digital economy to US$15 billion by 2030, increasing digital exports to US$5 billion and developing a digital workforce of 200,000 professionals.The Prime Minister said approximately Rs. 30 billion had been committed towards foundational digital transformation initiatives through the institutional framework established under the Ministry of Digital Economy.She cited GovPay, which has processed more than Rs. 6 billion in payments with over 300 organizations connected to the platform, as an example of how digital services could improve transparency, simplify transactions and reduce administrative burdens.She also highlighted the potential of digital technology to improve healthcare, agriculture, energy and transport, including through telemedicine, data-driven farming, smart energy management, digital ticketing and intelligent traffic management.

Emphasizing the importance of developing the workforce, she called for stronger partnerships between educational institutions and industry, greater access to practical training and flexible qualifications, including micro-credentials, to meet changing labour market demands.The Prime Minister stressed that technology alone could not eliminate inequality and said digital transformation should be assessed by whether it made public services, business operations and everyday life more accessible and convenient for citizens.During a subsequent panel discussion, she highlighted the need to ensure that the use of technology in education did not widen existing inequalities. She called for greater investment in digital infrastructure, technology-enabled education and modern curricula while cautioning that the integration of artificial intelligence into education should consider its potential impact on critical thinking, reasoning and cognitive development.She said a five-year plan had been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy to strengthen digital readiness across the education system and equip more schools with the necessary infrastructure.

The Prime Minister also called on the private sector to work with the Government to strengthen vocational education through industry placements, partnerships with vocational training institutions and programs aligned with actual labour market requirements.The two-day summit, held on October 12 and 13, brought together policymakers, business leaders, investors and other stakeholders to discuss Sri Lanka’s economic prospects and investment opportunities.Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairperson Krishan Balendra, Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy Watuna Sri Dhanapala, government officials and industry representatives attended the event.