Al-centric strategy to propel SL's digital economy fivefold by 2030

DR. WIJAYASURIYA SAYS THAT IN CRAFTING SRI LANKA'S DIGITAL ECONOMY BLUEPRINT AND ROADMAP, A WHOLE-OF-ECONOMY APPROACH HAS BEEN TAKEN ASSERTS INCREASING RATIO OF DIGITAL ECONOMY TO TOTAL GDP IS KEY TO DRIVING GROWTH MOMENTUM SAYS AI WILL RESIDE AT VERY EPICENTRE OF NATION'S COMPETITIVENESS, AT VERY EPICENTRE OF ECONOMY

- By SHABIYA ALI AHLAM

Sri Lanka aims to grow its digital economy fivefold over the next five years, placing artificial intelligence (AI) at the centre of its strategy to boost growth, enhance inclusion and strengthen global competitiveness, a senior official said.

Chief Advisor to President on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya said the country is working toward raising the contribution of its digital economy from an estimated 3-5 percent of GDP to 15 percent through an “Al-first” blueprint.

He was speaking at the launch of the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) Report 2025, in Colombo. The theme of the report this year is 'A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Al.

"In crafting Sri Lanka's digital economy blueprint and roadmap, we have taken a whole-of-economy approach. So, it's an overlapping ambition to use digital means to grow Sri Lanka's economy, on the one hand, to accelerate growth and on the other hand, to uplift indices such as the HDI, inclusion indices, capability indices and very importantly, national competitiveness," said Dr. Wijayasuriya.