Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Wednesday said the government will introduce a new artificial intelligence website, aigov.lk , and a system allowing passengers to pay bus fares using bank cards.
Speaking in Parliament, Amarasuriya said the initiatives are part of Digital Economy Month, a national effort aimed at accelerating Sri Lanka’s transition to a digitally empowered nation.
September has been declared Digital Economy Month to raise public awareness of digital tools and demonstrate the government’s commitment to building a future-ready digital economy. Activities will include public exhibitions, awareness campaigns, and policy discussions.
The government expects ongoing digital projects to deliver direct benefits to citizens and businesses. By 2030, the digital economy is projected to contribute US$15 billion to GDP, with US$5 billion from digital exports and a workforce of 200,000.
Key events include the Sri Lanka FinTech Summit on Sept. 24–25 and the National AI Expo on Sept. 29–30. Other programs will focus on digital skills training, entrepreneurship, startup showcases, and educational outreach targeting youth and professionals.
Additional initiatives scheduled for the month include the introduction of a national cybersecurity strategy, a certification authority, an expanded govpay platform for digital payments, and a digital economy experience center.
The Ministry of Digital Economy, in coordination with other ministries, is assessing infrastructure needs across sectors such as education to support the country’s digital transition. (Newswire)