L–R: Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Acting Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy; Dr. Mothilal De Silva, Chairman of SLT Group; Eng. Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy; Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chairman, ICTA, and Janaka Abeysinghe, CEO of SLT Group.
Sri Lanka will host its first National AI Expo and Conference on September 29-30, 2025, aiming to position the country as a leading AI hub in the Asia-Pacific region. This initiative supports the goal of growing the digital economy from USD 3.5 billion in 2025 to USD 15 billion by 2030, with AI projected to contribute 10-12 percent to that growth.
The collaboration between the Ministry of Digital Economy and SLT-MOBITEL highlights a commitment to enhancing Sri Lanka’s technology landscape.
Eng. Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, emphasized that the National AI Expo & Conference is essential for Sri Lanka’s AI-driven future. He highlighted the government’s commitment to transforming the nation into a digitally empowered country, with AI as a key driver of innovation and economic growth.
The two-day event powered by SLT-MOBITEL will showcase global technology advancements in AI for local industries, giving businesses and the public access to innovations shaping Sri Lanka’s tech future. Key themes include responsible AI governance, trust and ethics, implementation challenges and applications in sectors like banking, healthcare, education, agriculture, and SMEs.
Dr. Mothilal De Silva, the Chairman, SLT-MOBITEL, stated that as Sri Lanka’s National ICT Solutions Provider, the company is committed to driving the digital future through artificial intelligence. With innovations like Hello AI and AI Pazz, they aim to enhance everyday life and business outcomes.
The upcoming National AI Expo & Conference is a step towards ensuring that all Sri Lankans benefit from the AI revolution, contributing to a digitally inclusive and prosperous nation. They look forward to the active participation of all stakeholders in this journey.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will unveil Sri Lanka’s AI roadmap, National AI Fund, and Centre for AI Excellence during the conference.
The event will feature exhibitions, keynotes, and workshops from local and international leaders, establishing Sri Lanka as a competitive regional AI hub. It will cover AI applications in critical sectors like Agriculture, Healthcare, Finance, Education, and more. Key themes include National AI Strategy, Responsible AI governance, implementation challenges, skills development, and localization issues like language processing and cultural adaptation. Special attention will be given to improving citizen services in healthcare and education, as well as scaling AI solutions for SMEs and startups.
The National AI Expo supports SMEs and MSMEs by showcasing technological solutions for a more digitally literate society. With awards for AI innovation, it celebrates Sri Lankan ingenuity and promotes advancement in AI applications.
The event also provides networking opportunities, fostering collaboration among academia, startups, companies, local innovators, and international investors to establish Sri Lanka as a regional AI powerhouse.
