Friday Sep 04, 2026
Friday Sep 04, 2026
Friday, 4 September 2026 01:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya will deliver the keynote address at a special session on Day 2 of the Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit (SLEIS) 2026 organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, titled “Nation Building in the Digital Age”, on 13 October 2026 at the Shangri-La Colombo.
The session will examine how Sri Lanka can use artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation and education to accelerate economic growth, improve productivity and build a knowledge-driven economy. As technology reshapes industries and the nature of work, the discussion will focus on how Sri Lanka can develop the capabilities needed to remain competitive and create opportunities for future generations.
The Prime Minister will be joined by Digital Economy Ministry Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala, University of Peradeniya Senior Lecturer in Computer Engineering Prof. Roshan Ragel; and Elevante AI Founder and CEO Sanjay Shah, who together will add perspectives from government, academia, and industry. Hirdaramani Group Chairman and The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Deputy Vice Chairperson Vinod Hirdaramani will moderate the session.
The discussion will look at the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and automation, and their potential to transform industries and create new areas of economic activity. It will also consider the role of digitalisation in improving public services and supporting entrepreneurship.
Education and skills development will be another important part of the conversation, particularly as the demand for new capabilities grows alongside technological change. The panel will consider how Sri Lanka can prepare its workforce for future jobs while developing an environment that supports innovation and technology-led businesses.
The session will also look beyond technology itself to the wider conditions needed for a digital economy to grow. Policy, investment, infrastructure, education and collaboration between government, industry and academia will all have a role in determining how effectively Sri Lanka can turn technological change into economic opportunity.
Held under the theme “Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy,” SLEIS 2026 will offer perspectives from senior policymakers, business leaders, investors and international experts over two days of discussions on Sri Lanka’s economic direction, investment opportunities and the reforms needed to support future growth.
