Authored by – Kousheyee Ghosh – EY GDS Consulting Business Transformation and Client Support Services Leader

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally altering project management in industries worldwide, and Sri Lanka is no exception.

Manual activities such as project planning and static reporting are now being automated using AI. Smart planning, proactive risk identification, real-time reporting, and intelligent resource management are driving efficiency, precision, and innovation across practically all industries.

The areas in project management, where AI is being used extensively, are resource allocation and planning, predicting outcomes and risks, reporting and scheduling, and cost estimation and quality control. Although adoption is in the early stages, awareness and experimentation are growing among professionals.

Sri Lanka has outlined a comprehensive national strategy to leverage AI for economic transformation, public service enhancement, and global competitiveness. Led by the Presidential Secretariat and developed by the Committee on Formulating a Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (CFSAI), the plan includes a five-year roadmap aligned with Digital Strategy 2030.

Key initiatives under the strategy include the establishment of a National AI Centre, an LKR 1.5 billion budget allocation for early AI adoption, and cross sectoral collaboration involving academia, industry, and other sectors with adoption in BFSI, telecommunications, construction, and IT services.

The strategy emphasizes ethical AI deployment, data governance, skills development, and sectoral integration particularly in health, agriculture, education, and public administration to position Sri Lanka as a regional leader in responsible AI innovation.

Moreover, AI has now become essential to make project management more agile and resilient. Teams are often unaware when a disruption may happen or how swiftly industry trends may change. Quickly adapting to changes, the AI shift is improving operational efficiency and the quality of customer service and support.

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), organizations that fully leverage AI are 30% more likely to deliver on time and 23% are anticipated to exceed their ROI goals. Today, AI is not just an enhancement; it is assisting project managers in driving efficiency and innovation, automating complex processes, providing predictive insights, and enabling real-time collaboration.

Analysis of vast datasets, from client financials to market trends, is a critical process in project management. Traditional methods are slow and prone to human error. A single incorrect decision or insight can derail progress and delay delivery by months.

Organizations such as EY GDS Sri Lanka are implementing AI-powered systems to help teams identify anomalies in financial transactions or anticipate market shifts. Based on fresh streams of data and calculated insights, teams can make decisive decisions in real time and provide data backed recommendations with speed and accuracy, elevating the overall client experience.

Business requirements documents and meeting notes are key but time consuming. Generative AI excels in accuracy, consistency, and detail. It can evaluate and extract information from client discussions, user inputs, and market trends, combining disconnected information into structured and actionable documents.

In Sri Lanka’s consulting and IT services sector, where documentation is often a bottleneck, generative AI is helping firms accelerate delivery cycles, maintaining compliance and precision.

Software development cycles require collaboration from stakeholders, which increases the risk of misalignment. AI-powered tools bridge these gaps, automating repetitive tasks such as code generation, review, and testing. Gartner predicts by 2028, 75% of enterprise software engineers will adopt AI coding assistants, highlighting the growing impact of these technologies.

Sri Lanka is forecasting USD 20 billion in total export earnings for 2026, marking a 10% year-on-year growth. A total of USD 15.7 billion is projected from merchandise exports, and USD 4.3 billion is expected from services exports. The Export Development Board (EDB) has highlighted services such as ICT, logistics, and tourism as critical drivers of this growth, with ICT identified as a leading contributor.

Moreover, Sri Lanka has set a national target of USD 36 billion in exports by 2030, with USD 11 billion projected from services alone. It highlights the strategic role of the IT and BPM sector in diversifying the country’s export portfolio and strengthening its competitiveness in the global digital economy. For the IT industry, the growth signals strong growth opportunities, as ICT services are increasingly recognized as a pillar of export-led development, complementing traditional sectors like apparel and tea.

A Harvard Business Review study found organizations integrating AI with human expertise achieve higher performance metrics compared with those relying exclusively on one or the other. Though AI can process data or automate documentation, interpreting results and tailoring insights to specific client scenarios requires deep industry knowledge.

Human-AI partnership guarantees that automation does not compromise personalized, high-quality service. In Sri Lanka, where client relationships are deeply valued, the balance is essential to sustaining trust and long-term partnerships.

Sri Lanka’s AI market is poised for rapid growth, with strong government backing and industry adoption. The country launched a national push toward AI-driven growth, unveiled at the first National AI Expo and Conference 2025. The government’s reforms focus on embedding AI in multiple sectors.

Complementary initiatives include a unified cybersecurity strategy, expanded digital payments, and a national AI platform. By 2030, Sri Lanka aims to build a USD 15 billion digital economy, generate USD 5 billion in digital exports, and create a workforce of 200,000 skilled professionals, positioning AI as a central driver of economic transformation and global competitiveness.

Supporting this national plan, EY GDS Sri Lanka just completed four years in Sri Lanka as a leader in the consulting and assurance industries in February 2026. The milestone demonstrates the firm’s commitment to driving innovation and excellence in the region, aligning with Sri Lanka’s broader digital transformation journey.

As AI continues to evolve, its implementation in Sri Lanka’s project management landscape can further accelerate the country’s development, driving efficiency throughout industries and enabling faster execution of large-scale initiatives. In striking a balance between automation and expertise, organizations can ensure AI initiatives enhance rather than replace the human touch, guiding their service philosophy.

The views reflected in this article are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the global EY organization or its member firms.

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• To launch a world-class secure storage facility in Seeduwa, Colombo
• Bring advanced information management, including cybersecurity and payments solutions tailored for banking, government, and large enterprises

Writer Corporation, one of India’s leading business groups, today announced the launch of its subsidiary, Writer Business Services Pvt. Ltd., and the commencement of its operations in Sri Lanka. The expansion reflects Sri Lanka’s strategic importance in Writer’s regional growth plans and its role in supporting a highly regulated digital and financial services market which is currently undergoing digital transformation.

Sri Lanka’s continued focus on strengthening regulatory frameworks, digital platforms, and financial systems is shaping how institutions across banking, government, and enterprise sectors approach their business operations. There is a clear emphasis on secure, compliant, and resilient information and transaction environments that can scale with regulatory and business needs. Writer’s entry into Sri Lanka aligns with this direction, bringing global experience and a partnership-led approach to the market.

As part of its launch, Writer will establish a secure records and information storage facility in Seeduwa, Colombo. Designed to meet global standards for security, compliance, and disaster resilience, the facility will support banks, financial institutions, government bodies, and large enterprises in managing physical and digital information across its lifecycle.

Alongside information management, Writer brings established expertise in integrated payment services to support the modernization of transaction infrastructure across the banking and financial services sector. Its payments capabilities focus on strengthening availability, transaction continuity, and transparency across critical payment channels that underpin institutional reliability and customer confidence.

Writer’s digital payments offerings in Sri Lanka include end-to-end ATM and self-service terminal outsourcing, integrated channel ownership and managed services, field management applications, payment and reconciliation platforms, and remote monitoring with near real-time reporting. These solutions support financial institutions in improving uptime, strengthening governance, and enhancing operational efficiency across payment networks, in line with the continued evolution of electronic and automated payment systems.

Across information management and payments, Writer operates with an integrated portfolio spanning records and information management, business process outsourcing, cloud and digital services, data privacy, cybersecurity and enterprise payments infrastructure. These capabilities support institutions in addressing evolving regulatory requirements, digitization of legacy environments, and rising operational and cyber risks.

Writer’s local presence enables closer collaboration with clients and on-ground delivery, while supporting the development of Centres of Excellence across cybersecurity operations, SOC and NOC services, AI-led solutions, and payments operations and monitoring.

Writer’s Sri Lanka operations will be built, led, and run by Sri Lankan professionals, reflecting a long-term commitment to local talent growth and development.

Commenting on this development, Mr. SatyamohanYanambaka, CEO, Writer Global Services Pvt. Ltd., assured Writer’s long-term commitment to the country’s digital ambitions. He said, “Writer’s entry into Sri Lanka reflects our belief that digital ambition in regulated environments must be supported by trust, sound governance, and strong execution. As institutions scale digital services, the reliability of information and payment systems, channel operations, and governance frameworks becomes increasingly important to public and institutional confidence. Our experience across information management, digital transformation, and enterprise payments enables us to support secure, large-scale financial ecosystems, with a clear commitment to building and leading these capabilities locally.”

Sri Lanka’s Digital Personal Data Protection framework raises expectations around how personal and sensitive information is secured and governed. Writer is positioned to support institutions in meeting these requirements through secure, compliant, and resilient information and payment operations, underpinned by a long-term, partnership-led approach.

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• Over 1.5 million Dialog subscribers already connected to the largest 5G network in Sri Lanka
• First operator to commercially enable 5G in Sri Lanka, powered by 220 live sites connected across the country, underscoring leadership in next-generation connectivity
• Only operator to secure 27 GHz spectrum, enabling gigabit speeds and advanced enterprise solutions, alongside 3500 MHz spectrum to support nationwide 5G coverage
• Plans to invest USD 100 million towards expanding 5G connectivity across Sri Lanka over the next two years
• Dialog offers the widest 5G roaming network, collaborating with 155 global partners across 76 countries, enabling high-speed 5G connectivity for inbound tourists and Sri Lankans travelling overseas

In a significant step towards advancing Sri Lanka, Dialog Axiata PLC announced the commercial launch of Dialog 5G Ultra, marking a major milestone in the country’s digital evolution and its transition into the 5G era. Dialog’s 5G network is powered by over 220 live 5G sites serving over 1.5 million subscribers and leads the country as the first to commercially enable 5G in Sri Lanka—underscoring its leadership in advancing next-generation connectivity nationwide.

The commercial launch follows Dialog securing a 100 MHz block in the 3500 MHz band and a 200 MHz block in the 27 GHz band at the 5G spectrum auction conducted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL).

Dialog 5G Ultra delivers advanced 5G connectivity with ultra-fast speeds, low latency, and enhanced network performance, laying the foundation for richer digital experiences for consumers in Sri Lanka, alongside advanced capabilities across enterprises and industries. By leveraging both 3500 MHz spectrum for wide-area mobile coverage and 27 GHz spectrum for high-capacity, gigabit-speed use cases, Dialog is uniquely positioned to support future-ready consumer and enterprise applications.

Commenting on the launch, Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC, said, “The launch of Dialog 5G Ultra represents a defining step in strengthening Sri Lanka’s digital infrastructure for the future. Beyond faster connectivity, 5G is a critical enabler of innovation, productivity, and inclusion across the digital economy. As Sri Lanka’s largest 5G network, we are committed to investing USD 100 million over the next two years to expand 5G connectivity across the country and ensure that individuals, businesses, and industries can fully participate in a digital Sri Lanka. We are thankful to the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka and the Government of Sri Lanka for conducting a transparent auction process to allocate 5G spectrum.”

Dialog’s 5G journey builds on a strong legacy of innovation — from being the first to introduce 2G,3G and 4G in South Asia, to pioneering early 5G demonstrations, and operating the country’s most extensive 5G trial network over several years. The commercial launch of Dialog 5G Ultra now brings these advancements into widespread use, embedding high-performance connectivity into everyday life and business.

To mark the launch, Dialog has introduced a range of 5G-related offers across devices, data plans and content, enabling customers to experience the full potential of 5G across mobile and entertainment. For more information, please visit www.dialog.lk

Dialog also offers the widest 5G roaming network from Sri Lanka, supporting 5G connectivity across 76 countries through partnerships with 155 global mobile operators. This enables Dialog customers with 5G-compatible devices to enjoy seamless, high-speed connectivity while travelling overseas, reinforcing Dialog’s leadership in delivering a world-class mobile experience for both Sri Lankans abroad and inbound visitors to the country.

As a pioneer in introducing future technologies to Sri Lanka, Dialog remains committed to advancing national digital transformation and delivering world-class connectivity experiences that enrich lives, empower enterprises, and support the country’s long-term development.

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Virtusa Expands Technology Centre in Sri Lanka with Over 200 Open Roles as Part of Global AI-Led Growth Strategy

Virtusa Corporation, a leading global provider of digital strategy, engineering, and IT services, announced the expansion of its Sri Lanka Delivery Center with over200 new career opportunities across high-growth technology domains. The initiative marks a renewed phase of investment in the country as Virtusa accelerates its journey toward becoming a US $5 billion enterprise by 2030.

The expansion follows the strategic vision outlined by Virtusa CEO Nitesh Banga, who has committed to positioning the company as the world’s leading domain-driven engineering partner for the AI-enterprise. During his recent official visit to Sri Lanka as CEO, Banga emphasized the country’s integral role in Virtusa’s global delivery network and its heritage as the firm’s founding center of excellence.

The 200-plus open positions announced by Virtusa span Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, Full Stack Development, BPO/KPO services and DevOps roles, reflecting Virtusa’s focus on scaling its engineering and AI capabilities to support clients across banking, financial services, healthcare, insurance, telecom, and technology industries. These roles include both entry-level and experienced positions and offer Sri Lankan professionals the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge AI and digital transformation projects for Fortune 500 clients worldwide.

Virtusa’s Sri Lanka operations have long been a core component of the company’s global delivery model, combining deep domain fluency with agile engineering and a culture of continuous innovation. The Colombo center plays a key role in advancing Virtusa Helio, the company’s suite of AI-powered accelerators that help enterprises drive measurable business outcomes and faster time-to-value from their AI investments.

“Sri Lanka continues to be a strategic center of excellence for Virtusa. Our current recruitment drive reflects our confidence in the country’s high-quality talent and the potential of this market to deliver world-class engineering and AI solutions to global clients,” said Venkatesan Vijayaraghavan, Chief Operating Officer of Virtusa Corporation.

In line with Virtusa’s focus on AI and GenAI-led innovation, the company continues to invest in upskilling its employees through its Virtusa Thrive Academy, with programs in AI orchestration, prompt engineering, and domain-specific applications. These initiatives strengthen Virtusa’s position as a future-ready employer and a catalyst for the growth of Sri Lanka’s digital economy.

Candidates interested in joining Virtusa can visit the company’s careers portal to discover open roles and apply. The ongoing recruitment effort underscores Virtusa’s long-term commitment to building global careers for Sri Lankan professionals while fueling the next chapter of its growth story from Colombo.

“We are proud to be expanding our operations with new roles across AI, data, cloud, and engineering, reaffirming Sri Lanka’s position as a strategic hub in Virtusa’s global delivery network. Sri Lanka has always been central to Virtusa’s success story. As we advance toward our vision of becoming a US $5 billion enterprise by 2030, our focus remains on nurturing world-class Sri Lankan talent capable of leading in an AI-first world,” commented Denver De Zylva, Joint Country Head (Sri Lanka) of Virtusa Corporation.

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