The Ministry of Technology in Sri Lanka has announced the commencement of the “DIGIECON 2030” program, a significant initiative aimed at accelerating the digital economic transformation of the country. This program, inspired by the vision of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, is set to begin on October 11th and represents the first collaborative effort between the government and the private sector to execute a digital economy plan in Sri Lanka.
State Minister of Technology, Mr. Kanaka Herath, highlighted the potential of digital economics policies to bolster Sri Lanka’s economy significantly. During a media awareness discussion held at the Presidential Media Center on the 5th of this month, he emphasized the importance of this digital economic plan in positioning Sri Lanka competitively on the global economic stage. He also mentioned that workshops and conferences will be organized to educate the public about this digital economy plan.
State Minister Kanaka Herath further announced that the inauguration of the “DIGIECON 2030” program, in alignment with President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s vision, will take place on the 11th of this month. This event is expected to be transformative, guiding Sri Lanka towards becoming a digital economy and formulating a comprehensive digital economic strategy for the country. The digital economy policy is already in place, with Mr. Anura Dissanayake, the Prime Minister’s Secretary, playing a pivotal role as the chairman of the committee responsible for its formulation.
These digital economic plans are poised to equip Sri Lanka to meet the challenges of the global economic landscape, potentially paving the way for a strong Sri Lankan economy in the next decade.
Currently, the digital economy contributes 4% to the country’s GDP, and there are plans to increase this figure to 15% by 2030. The official launch of this program is scheduled for October 11th, accompanied by 23 conferences and workshops. Private institutions actively participating in this endeavor have been acknowledged for their support.
Prominent speakers at the event included Additional Secretary of the Ministry of State for Technology, MPNM. Wickramasinghe; Prasad Samarawickrama, the Project Director of DIGIECON 2023-2030; Jehan Perinpanayagam, President of the Sri Lanka Association for Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM); Indika de Soyza, President of the Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS); Ajantha Athukorala, President of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL); Professor Ranjith Dissanayake; Dr. Nilanthi Fernando, Director General of National Engineering Research & Development Centre (NERDC); and Mr. Alenzo Doll, President of the British Computer Society.
