Anura proposes regional collaboration for equitable access to AI benefits

NEW DELHI, February 19: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka on Thursday (Feb 19) suggested that the existing Artificial Intelligence Gap among countries can be bridged through regional cooperation while preserving cultural identity.

- BY S VENKAT NARAYAN

Speaking at the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, he called for regional collaboration based on four pillars to promote Artificial Intelligence.

He said: "Our vision is not isolation it is integration. We see AI infrastructure as the next frontier of economic and cultural cooperation.

Therefore, Sri Lanka proposes regional collaboration. It is extremely important to be based on the four pillars of controlled low-resource language datasets, common evaluation metrics and security tools, and joint capacity development. I believe that this effort will enable broad and equitable access to the benefits of AI across our region." "It is a great honour for me to join you in New Delhi at this unique moment when Artificial Intelligence is already transforming economies, governance systems and societies.

AI technology is a transformative force that creates a massive impact on national growth trajectories, just as industrialization did in past centuries," the president added.