Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has called for Sri Lanka to move beyond relying on technologies developed overseas and instead build the capacity to create innovative technological solutions for both domestic and international markets.
Addressing the National Science Foundation (NSF) Award Ceremony for Science Popularization 2026 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, the Prime Minister said science, technology and innovation would be central to the country’s transition towards a knowledge-based economy.
The ceremony, organized by the National Science Foundation under the Ministry of Science and Technology under the theme “AI for Safety and Resilience,” recognized schoolchildren, teachers, scientists and media personnel for their contributions to promoting science.
Dr. Amarasuriya said artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way people live, work and communicate, while offering significant opportunities to strengthen disaster preparedness, enhance public safety, protect the environment and improve decision-making.
At the same time, she warned that the rapid advancement of AI has created new challenges, including cybersecurity threats, breaches of data privacy, misinformation and algorithmic bias, according to a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister.
She said irresponsible or malicious use of AI could threaten social stability and democratic values, making it essential to maximize the technology’s benefits while protecting society from its potential risks.
The Prime Minister said the Government’s vision, outlined in its manifesto “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life”, is to transform Sri Lanka into an economy driven by