The Government of Sri Lanka is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive economic growth, enhance public services, and address key societal challenges. It is imperative that there is a clear understanding and appropriate utilization and leveraging of AI solutions for sustainable development in the coming years. AI can also assist governments in providing citizens with enhanced public services and will play an increasingly significant role in the global economy. Being prepared to use ethical AI in the delivery of public services will allow governments to maximize the benefits of AI while minimizing its potential risks.
To this end, the Government has formed a national Committee on Formulating the Strategy on AI (CFSAI) for Sri Lanka, anchored at the Presidential Secretariat. This committee will spearhead the formulation of the national strategy on AI in the coming months.
As a foundational step in this journey, the Presidential Secretariat, the National Committee, and the Ministry of Technology, with technical expertise from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka, conducted an introductory workshop around the UNDP-developed AI Readiness Assessment (AIRA).
AIRA is a tool developed by UNDP’s Chief Digital Office that assesses the current AI landscape in Sri Lanka and aims to understand what the challenges and opportunities are within this space.
The workshop took place today, Wednesday 18th of October, for more than 70 invited guests, mostly from the public sector of Sri Lanka. The session explored the concept of AI, its potential use and role, specifically within the space of national development, and introduced the participants to the overall AIRA assessment. The insights captured through this assessment will be analysed by UNDP’s Chief Digital Office and will inform the national strategy that will be subsequently developed.
The session was attended by Hon. Kanaka Herath, State Minister of Technology; Senior Additional Secretaries to the President, Ms Chandani Wijewardena and Dr Sulakshana Jayawardena; Dr Romesh Ranawana, Chairperson – Committee on Formulating the Strategy on AI; and Ms Malin Herwig, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka.