Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping global industries and redefining the nature of work, but Sri Lanka risks being left behind unless it urgently strengthens its computing infrastructure, data readiness, and education systems, experts warned at a recent national webinar on AI transformation.
Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Board Member and Microimage CEO Harsha Purasinghe, speaking at the event, said that while AI presents vast opportunities, Sri Lankan startups face severe limitations due to the absence of local Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) clusters. These GPU networks vital for training AI models are unavailable in local data centres, forcing innovators to rely on expensive international cloud services.
“You can come up with fantastic ideas, but you need to train your models and experiment. For a startup, the biggest challenge is paying for compute,” Purasinghe noted, urging collaboration between Government and the private sector to attract global hyperscalers and establish local GPU infrastructure.
He emphasised that Sri Lanka’s competitive edge in AI will depend on nurturing high-quality talent rather than large workforces. “AI requires small but highly skilled teams capable of building proprietary systems and intellectual property. Curricula must evolve, and young people need to be guided to use these tools,” he said, calling for urgent reforms in university and vocational training.
Purasinghe also highlighted AI’s potential to transform traditional sectors like agriculture by empowering farmers with predictive tools to plan crops, optimise yields, and cut costs. He added that access and affordability would determine whether businesses and individuals can meaningfully engage with AI.
ICTA has already begun piloting AI awareness across the public sector, starting with the Presidential Secretariat and now training more than 5,000 officials on AI tools, prompting techniques, and workplace applications. “Training officials on AI tools had a massive impact on efficiency,” Purasinghe said.
Nimbus Cloud Lanka Managing Director Damith Hettihewa stressed that AI adoption depends on strong data frameworks. “AI models are only as good as the data they are trained on. We must consolidate, organise, and govern data under ethical and legal frameworks,” he said, noting that the Personal Data Protection Act and international standards such as the EU’s GDPR guide these efforts.
Hettihewa added that companies can begin preparing data frameworks using existing CPU resources or cloud credits, reducing costs for startups.
NCINGA Chief Technology Officer Chathura Peiris said AI has transformative potential across sectors including banking, healthcare, education, agriculture, and Government services. “AI-first banking will drive hyper-personalised services and digital engagement. The foundation is scalable data infrastructure,” he explained.
ACCA Asia Pacific Policy Manager Dean Hezekiah said professional bodies are revising qualifications to include digital and AI competencies. “Every graduate should have at least a baseline understanding of AI technologies,” he said.
Experts agreed that Sri Lanka’s ability to compete in the global AI economy depends on rapid investment in computing power, data ecosystems, and education a race the nation cannot afford to lose.
