“Nation’s digital landscape has expanded at a pace surpassing global norms”

Despite the economic challenges Sri Lanka faced, the nation’s digital landscape has expanded at a pace that surpasses global norms, said State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath, atthe groundbreaking DigiEcon Global Investment Summit 2024 held under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo yesterday.

“We have embarked on an ambitious plan to accelerate Sri Lanka’s digital transformation, with many initiatives already underway. We are committed to achieving island-wide 4G coverage by 2025, and have granted initial approval for Starlink to further enhance our connectivity options,” he disclosed.

“In addition our Non-IT Graduate Conversion Program is designed to address the growing demand for IT and BPM professionals by upskilling talent from other disciplines.” He also outlined plans to invest in upgrading Lanka’s Government Net and Lanka government Cloud. A Data Protection Authority established and a Cyber Security act is to be implemented this year.”

The objectives of the proposed CyberSecurity Act is to ensure the effective implementation of the National Cyber Security strategies and policies in Sri Lanka which will prevent, mitigate, and respond to cyber security threats and incidents effectively and efficiently.

“We have successfully completed a pilot project for a government online payment platform, which will be rolled out countrywide, making transactions more convenient for citizens and businesses. We are fostering the growth of the business community through quality assurance initiatives, such as SLS & GMP certification for SMEs and e-commerce onboarding programs.”

These initiatives, while part of a long-term strategy, demonstrate our commitment to immediate action and progress in Sri Lanka’s digital transformation journey, he added. Commenting on the summit he said that through it have ignited a spark of collaboration and investment they were committed to sustaining this momentum by establishing a fund of funds in partnership with corporations and investors. “While we have made significant strides, we recognize that we can accelerate our progress. With the necessary infrastructure in place, we aim to achieve a comprehensive digital transformation by 2030.”

Commenting on the economic development he said.”In just one year, individual internet usage has grown by 3.9%, outpacing the global average of 1.8%. Social media usage has surged by 6.5%, exceeding the global growth rate of 5.6%. While our urbanization rate is 19%, our mobile penetration stands at an impressive 148%, underscoring the immense potential for digital transformation.

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