Unveiling of Ambitious Education Reform and Collaboration with India for Technological Advancements
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has underscored Sri Lanka’s dedication to modernizing agriculture and has placed significant emphasis on the country’s objective of decreasing multi-dimensional poverty. By 2035, Sri Lanka is striving to cap multi-dimensional poverty at 10%. While achieving zero poverty is groundbreaking, the President has acknowledged that even leading nations typically maintain a poverty rate of approximately 7%.
In order to reach this ambitious goal, President Wickremesinghe has emphasized the critical need for establishing a strong framework and collecting precise data. This data will play a crucial role in pinpointing individuals and regions that require assistance the most, taking into account various aspects such as education, health, and income levels at the grassroots level. The President has highlighted that combating multi-dimensional poverty is a vital component alongside endeavors to improve the education sector.
These declarations were made by President Wickremesinghe during his keynote address at the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Seminar held on Tuesday (26) at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo. The President highlighted the timeliness of the Seminar amidst Sri Lanka’s transition beyond mere economic stabilization. Drawing attention to the successful economic stabilization and the ongoing discussions with international creditors, President Wickremesinghe outlined the government’s agenda for economic transformation.
The seminar on Digital Public Infrastructure, jointly organized by the High Commission of India in Colombo and the Ministry of Technology, Government of Sri Lanka, aimed to explore the transformative possibilities of DPI in facilitating service delivery, empowering communities through inclusivity, and enriching the economy by fostering innovation.
President Wickremesinghe has also expressed his intent to present the necessary legislation to parliament by the middle of this year at the latest to enable the operationalization of the proposed agency. He has stressed that this legislative and policy framework is indispensable for Sri Lanka to evolve into a competitive economy, particularly as the Indian Ocean region emerges as a pivotal area for growth.
Describing Sri Lanka’s economy as a “patchwork economy,” the President has highlighted the necessity of transitioning towards a more cohesive digital economy.
Recognizing the significance of digitalization, President Wickremesinghe has underscored the importance of deliberations on the digital public economy. He has outlined plans to establish a new institutional framework to facilitate this transition, moving away from existing structures like IT councils and focusing on establishing a Digital Transformation Agency and an AI center, with an allocated budget of LKR 01 billion. This agency will be dedicated to constructing a robust digital economy, departing from previous approaches that have failed to yield desired results.
The President has emphasized the pivotal role of digital infrastructure in modernizing agriculture, addressing multi-dimensional poverty, and reforming the education system.
President Wickremesinghe has highlighted the necessity of strengthening the education system, both at the school and higher education levels, to support this initiative. One of the key decisions is the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into schools within the next five years, with the objective of integrating it into every school within five to eight years, extending to universities as well.
The President has expressed appreciation to the Indian government for their support in advancing Sri Lanka’s digital economy, outlining plans to collaborate with Indian institutions and leverage their expertise, particularly in establishing a campus of the Chennai Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and additionally planning to launch three universities, two of which will focus on technology.
He has stressed the significance of India’s technological advancements and proposed leveraging their expertise to expedite Sri Lanka’s development by adopting suitable strategies. President Wickremesinghe has underscored the need for collective support to implement these plans and has emphasized the urgency of embracing modernization to propel Sri Lanka into the 21st century.
The President concluded with optimism, expressing his belief that the discussions at the workshop would make a substantial contribution to the nation’s development plans and programs.
Meanwhile, at the event, State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath outlined Sri Lanka’s commitment to operationalizing the DIGIECON 2030 roadmap, focusing on enhancing networks and promoting Digital Financial Services (DFS) for financial inclusion.
He further announced the government’s intention to implement DPI across all levels to foster a connected digital government and tackle challenges like cyber-security.
Additionally, the State Minister revealed plans for a global investment summit on June 25th, providing a platform for tech venture capitalists. He urged investors to embrace change and contribute to the country’s digital evolution to explore investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s burgeoning tech ecosystem.
The event was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Nimal Siripala De Silva, State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath, Indian High Commissioner H.E. Santosh Jha, Parliamentarians Harsha De Silva, Kavinga Jayawardena, Mayantha Dissanayake, Charitha Herath, and Mohomad Muzammil. Also present were Secretary to the Ministry of Technology Dr. Dharmasiri Kumaratunge and notable stakeholders from India and Sri Lanka.