Sri Lanka has recorded a healthcare milestone with the completion of its first surgeries using artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted robotic technology, doctors said.
Two procedures were carried out at the Asiri Surgical Hospital in Colombo — the removal of the uterus of a woman in her 50s and a complex kidney-related operation — in what medical teams described as the first use of the technology in the country.
The surgeries were performed by specialist doctors with the support of a robotic system. Medical experts stressed that the system does not operate autonomously but remains under the full control of the surgeon. Using a specialised console, surgeons guide robotic arms that replicate their hand movements inside the patient’s body with what practitioners say is far greater precision than conventional techniques.
The integration of AI and advanced programming allows the arms to execute highly precise movements, improving accuracy in complex procedures and, according to doctors, reducing surgical trauma and shortening recovery times for patients.
The introduction of robotic-assisted surgery places Sri Lanka among a growing number of countries adopting the technology, and signals expanding investment in advanced medical capacity within the country’s private hospital sector. Practitioners say wider adoption will depend on training specialist teams and managing the high cost of robotic systems.
