Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Tuesday, 30 September 2025 02:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka scored a major breakthrough in digital education yesterday with the announcement of a landmark partnership with Google, which will provide free access to advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for students across the country.
Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eng. Eranga Weeraratne revealed the news at the inaugural National AI Expo and Conference 2025, calling it “a monumental achievement for the country and AI capacity building development.”
“After months of collaboration between our Ministry and Google, I am excited to announce the news that I received just this morning. Google has agreed to provide their student offer with Gemini, with advanced features and other benefits, for Sri Lankan students free-of-cost,” he told a packed audience of industry leaders, academics, students and policymakers.
He described the partnership as a “game changer” that would democratise access to cutting-edge AI resources. “Across our nation, every student will soon have free access to powerful world-class AI tools, platforms and learning resources. This will level the playing field and put our students on par with anyone, anywhere in the world,” he stressed.
The Deputy Minister insisted that the initiative goes beyond mere adoption of AI, aiming instead to nurture mastery among the next generation. “We don’t just need to use AI. We want every single one of you to master it,” he said.
But he also urged caution, underscoring the ethical responsibility that comes with such access. “With access to such powerful tools comes great responsibility. Use them to build, to innovate, and to solve the greatest challenges of our time. But always use them wisely, ethically, and for the benefit of all Sri Lankans and the world,” he emphasised.
Eng. Weeraratne believes the initiative is expected to accelerate the Government’s broader vision of creating a smarter, more prosperous and inclusive digital economy. “We must work together with passion and purpose to build a smarter, more prosperous and a more compassionate Sri Lanka,” he said.
