Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized the urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks that foster innovation while upholding safety, efficacy, data privacy, security, and ethical standards in digital technologies.
Delivering the keynote address at a roundtable discussion on digital mental health hosted by the Global Digital Mental Health Network of eMHIC, held today (22) at Temple Trees, Dr. Amarasuriya outlined the government’s commitment to integrating digital health solutions into the national mental health system. The event was supported by the Prime Minister’s Media Division.
She noted that this move is part of the government’s broader digital transformation agenda, and stressed the importance of a coordinated, multi-sectoral, and multidisciplinary approach. This includes building a well-trained mental health workforce and enhancing community-level engagement to ensure equitable access and responsiveness.
Addressing Key Challenges
Dr. Amarasuriya also pointed to significant challenges in the digital mental health landscape, particularly the intergenerational gap in understanding psychological and digital well-being between parents and children. She stressed the importance of addressing these gaps in the context of educational reforms, which increasingly incorporate digital tools and platforms.
International Collaboration and Participation
The high-level discussion brought together a diverse range of international and local stakeholders, including:
- Senator Kathy Hay of Canada
- Professor Anil Thapliyal, Executive Director of eMHIC
- Representatives of the eMental Health International Collaborative
- Officials from government ministries, academia, and professional bodies
The event served as a platform to explore technology-driven innovations to tackle mental health issues in Sri Lanka and to strengthen cross-border cooperation in digital mental health strategies.
Dr. Amarasuriya concluded by reaffirming the government’s readiness to adopt forward-looking policies that ensure the responsible development and implementation of digital mental health technologies, in alignment with national priorities and ethical values.
