Thursday Sep 11, 2025
Thursday Sep 11, 2025
Thursday, 11 September 2025 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka stands at an inflection point. Global competition is intensifying, technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain are reshaping industries, and societies worldwide are rethinking the role of technology in human progress. For a nation striving to become a $ 15 billion digital economy, the stakes are high. Against this backdrop, the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) is preparing to host the National ICT Conference (NITC 2025) the country’s premier and longest-running technology forum. Scheduled for 14 to 16 October at the Shangri-La Colombo, this year’s conference takes on unprecedented significance as it aligns directly with Sri Lanka’s digital nation-building agenda.
The conference theme, “Fostering a Human-Centric Nation Towards Society 5.0,” captures both the challenge and the opportunity. While digital adoption has accelerated across the world, the defining question now is how to ensure that technology benefits people bridging divides, creating opportunities, and enhancing wellbeing. This is the promise of Society 5.0, a concept pioneered in Japan and now being localised for Sri Lanka: the fusion of cyberspace and physical space in a way that puts people, not machines, at the centre of development.
Unveiling the event, CSSL President Heshan Karunaratne stressed the importance of embracing this vision. “Society 5.0 represents the next frontier of digital transformation. It is not only about applying technology but about reimagining how technology can serve people, enhance inclusivity, and deliver social good,” he said. “Sri Lanka has a unique opportunity to harness emerging technologies to drive inclusive growth, enhance digital literacy, and create a more connected and intelligent society.”
Karunaratne’s message was more than ceremonial. It underlined the pivotal role that CSSL intends to play as the professional body for ICT in Sri Lanka. For over four decades, CSSL has nurtured talent, built capacity, and engaged with government and industry to shape policy. Now, with NITC 2025, the organisation is making a bold statement: the ICT sector is not a support function—it is the driver of national progress.
CSSL Vice President Indika de Zoysa placed emphasis on the structural reforms necessary for Sri Lanka to thrive in the digital economy. “We are actively engaging with the government for policy changes to secure low-interest bank loans for freelancers, establish world-class IT parks, and reform education to produce a highly skilled workforce.”
De Zoysa also cautioned against complacency. “Without decisive action, Sri Lanka risks losing its competitive edge in the global digital economy. We must create a more conducive environment for talent to thrive and stay in Sri Lanka.” His remarks highlighted a reality that many stakeholders are aware of: while Sri Lanka has produced globally recognised ICT professionals, many of them choose to work abroad. Retaining talent requires a holistic approach—fiscal incentives, better infrastructure, and educational reform—and NITC 2025 will serve as a forum to advance those discussions.
NITC 2025 Conference Chair Dr. Amal Illesinghe, spoke with conviction about the scale of the event. “This year’s National ICT Conference is expected to attract more than 1,200 participants, including technology professionals, business leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, academia and students. It will be a melting pot of ideas, fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, and between academia and industry. That collaboration is vital if Sri Lanka is to accelerate its journey toward a digitally empowered future.”
Dr. Illesinghe emphasised that the conference has been curated to break silos. Seven tracks—FinTech, EduTech, TravelTech, AgriTech, eHealth, InfoSec and e-Governance —will provide space for deep dives into how technology can transform specific sectors. “It is not enough to speak in generalities,” he noted. “We want participants to walk away with concrete insights, case studies, and strategies that can be implemented in their own organisations and sectors.” He also revealed new features for NITC 2025, including startup showcases, curated mentorship programs, and investor dialogues. These initiatives are designed to provide visibility and support to the next generation of innovators—young Sri Lankans whose ideas could shape the future economy.
CSSL Secretary Udesh I.W. Seneviratna, linked the conference directly to the national development vision. “The theme of NITC 2025 reflects our vision for Sri Lanka to integrate advanced digital technologies in a way that directly serves people and communities. This complements major initiatives of the Government such as Poverty Alleviation, Digitalisation of Services, and building a sustainable Clean Sri Lanka through Societal Upliftment. The National ICT Conference demonstrates how the technology sector can become a full partner in achieving the country’s long-term development goals.”
Seneviratna’s remarks underscored a central point: NITC is not an isolated industry event but a forum that connects with national objectives. Whether the issue is Educational Reforms, Digital Healthcare, Agricultural Modernisation, Financial, Tourism or e-Governance enchantments, technology is the enabler—and CSSL is positioning itself as a trusted partner in shaping policy and strategy he emphasised.
A program with impact
The three-day program will begin on 14 October with the CSSL National ICT Awards, a ceremony that recognises outstanding contributions to Sri Lanka’s digital landscape. The following two days will include keynote speeches by international experts, sector-specific panels, and interactive workshops. Beyond the scheduled agenda, the event will feature networking spaces, innovation booths, and knowledge-sharing lounges designed to maximise collaboration.
Global best practices will be showcased, with speakers from Asia, Europe, and the Americas sharing case studies on digital government, AI regulation, smart agriculture, and cyber-resilience. These sessions will give Sri Lanka’s policymakers and industry leaders concrete models to adapt, ensuring that the nation does not reinvent the wheel but builds on proven successes while tailoring them to local realities.
Why does NITC 2025 matter so much? The answer lies in Sri Lanka’s current trajectory. The country has set ambitious goals: becoming a $ 15 billion digital economy, ensuring 100% school connectivity by 2026, and embedding ICT in governance and public service delivery. Yet progress has been uneven. Connectivity gaps persist in rural areas, digital literacy remains low in some sectors, and policy inertia has slowed reforms.
The NITC provides a space to confront these challenges head-on. It allows stakeholders to exchange ideas, build coalitions, and accelerate initiatives. More importantly, it communicates a message to the nation: that the ICT community is not working in isolation but is fully aligned with the broader national vision.
At its heart, NITC 2025 is about more than technology. It is about people. The concept of Society 5.0 places human wellbeing at the centre ensuring that automation, AI, and digital platforms are harnessed to reduce inequality, empower citizens, and create opportunities for all. This is particularly relevant for Sri Lanka, where digital tools can bridge geographic divides, bring healthcare to underserved communities, and open global markets to local entrepreneurs.
As CSSL President Karunaratne noted, “We must remember that technology is not an end in itself. It is a means to improve lives. If NITC 2025 inspires even a few initiatives that directly enhance the wellbeing of Sri Lankans, it will have achieved its purpose.”
Looking ahead
As October approaches, anticipation continues to build. NITC 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most significant technology gatherings in Sri Lanka’s history. It represents a moment where the nation can align its policies, industry practices, and educational pathways with a clear, human-centric vision for the future.
For professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, academia and students, the message is clear: NITC 2025 is not just another conference. It is a national platform for transformation, a place where ideas meet implementation, and where the nation’s digital future begins to take shape.
