The Ministry of Digital Economy and SLT-MOBITEL have launched Sri Lanka AI Week 2026, a week-long national programme running from September 28 to October 4 across multiple venues in Colombo under the theme “AI Amplified.”
The initiative is the second edition of a national artificial intelligence event, following the country’s first National AI Expo and Conference last year, which drew more than 10,000 visitors.
The $15 billion target
Officials framed the week around the government’s goal of expanding Sri Lanka’s digital economy from about $3 billion to $15 billion by 2030, with artificial intelligence expected to account for roughly $1.5 billion — about a tenth — of that total. The IT and business process management sector is separately targeting $5 billion in revenue.
Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne said the country faced a strategic choice on how it engages with the technology. “Sri Lanka must decide whether we are going to remain just a consumer of these latest technologies, or if we are going to become a selective producer,” he said.
Ministry Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala said the benefits could not be confined to large firms. “The target of AI and its applications is not only to the boardrooms of executives or high-end people, but it should reach to the grassroots level,” he said.
Four events and two platforms
The programme comprises four events: AI Leaders Night, a networking dinner for executives and policymakers; a two-day AI Conference on policy, enterprise transformation and emerging technologies; a multi-zone AI Expo open to the public; and the National AI Awards, which will cover more than 16 sectors across four categories — National Awards, Industry Excellence, Innovation and Future, and AI for Content. More than 50 startups are expected to take part.
SLT-MOBITEL used the launch to introduce two platforms. SMART AI, which the operator describes as South Asia’s first AI tokenisation platform, will let customers buy AI token credits through their existing SLT-MOBITEL connectivity. AI Hub, described as a national AI engagement platform and already operational, is intended to link learners, researchers, universities, industry and government through a single ecosystem covering training, research collaboration and a data exchange marketplace.
The launch was attended by Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy and Chairman of GovTech Sri Lanka, SLT Group Chairman Dr. Mothilal De Silva and SLT-MOBITEL Chief Executive Riyaaz Rasheed. Organisers also highlighted child online safety as a shared responsibility alongside AI adoption.
Sources: EconomyNext, Colombo Gazette, Lanka Business Online.
