AGP Executive Report

ICT & AI: Sri Lanka’s National ICT Awards presented 127 awards across 43 categories, with 35 innovations nominated for Asia-Pacific awards. National AI Awards and the SLASSCOM AI Asia Summit also put local AI innovation in the spotlight. Business Technology: Edinborough Products has launched a group-wide digital system linking finance, manufacturing, sales, HR and banking across its operations. Digital Access: A nationwide internet rollout is reaching more than 3,600 secondary schools, while the government is planning AI-powered public services. Energy & Innovation: Sri Lanka secured US$57.4 million for rooftop solar and virtual net metering, and a local scientist has developed 3D-printed protein cookies using waste. AI Infrastructure: The country is courting AI data centres as forecasts point to a 315 MW rise in power demand.

Cybercrime Crackdown: Sri Lanka’s CID says illegal “boiler room” call centres behind a surge in cyber financial fraud have been decentralised to the island after crackdowns abroad, with Chinese nationals heavily represented in raids. Maritime Tech & Trade: Colombo West International Terminal hit 2m TEU and launched Phase 2, doubling capacity to 3.2m TEUs, as Sri Lanka weighs how to turn automation-led gains into long-term port competitiveness. Rail Reform Pressure: The Colombo–Gampola line reopening is welcome after Cyclone Ditwah damage, but coverage stresses deeper rail sector reform needs—idle assets, project delays and weak records keep holding back modernization. AI & Digital Services: Sri Lanka’s AI push continues with events and awards, while companies roll out practical tech—LB CIM’s digital gifting integration and LankaPropertyWeb’s AI marketing tool recognition—showing a shift from pilots to everyday use. Education & Skills: IESL’s National Engineering Conference 2026 calls for implementable policy reforms across technical education, energy transition, transport and building fire safety. Economy & Exports: World Bank reporting says growth has returned near pre-crisis levels, but poverty and jobs lag; separate trade coverage highlights Sri Lanka’s untapped export potential to India under ISFTA. Health & Research: A cinnamon review suggests possible memory benefits but notes limited human proof, and a longevity doctor promotes low-cost “basics” for healthier aging. Local Governance: Research on Sri Lanka’s gender quota finds representation rose, but power often didn’t.

Maritime Tech & Jobs: Colombo West International Terminal commissioned Phase 2 and hit 2+ million TEUs, doubling capacity to 3.2m TEUs, with the PM highlighting Sri Lanka’s push to grow a more competitive maritime economy and create skilled local roles. AI & Digital Government: Cabinet approved 1,050 official email accounts for 350 courts under the e-Court push, with voice-to-text support and plans for video conferencing to speed hearings. Power for Data Centres: Sri Lanka invited investors for AI and cloud data centres as peak electricity demand forecasts for 2027 rose by 315MW, putting energy planning at the center of the digital agenda. AI Ecosystem Push: SLASSCOM’s AI Asia Summit 2026 returns to Colombo on 12 Nov under “AI: The Multiplier,” shifting focus from experimentation to real business and workforce impact. Engineering Policy: IESL’s National Engineering Conference 2026 called for practical reforms across technical education, energy transition, transport development, and building fire safety. Smart Agriculture in Schools: Motithang Higher Secondary School reached the Zayed Sustainability Prize 2027 finalists with sensor-driven smart irrigation monitored via Blynk. Local AI Marketing Win: LankaPropertyWeb’s AMPLIFIER tool won silver for Best AI Solution at the National AI Awards 2026. Economy Reality Check: World Bank says Sri Lanka is back to pre-crisis growth levels, but jobs, incomes, and poverty still lag—making productivity and private investment the next test.

Digital Education Connectivity: Sri Lanka’s high-speed fibre rollout for government secondary schools is moving fast, with 3,600+ schools already connected or being connected out of 6,225 planned, supported by TRCSL’s “Gamata Sannivedanaya” and the Education Ministry. Energy & Engineering: HayWind has begun major turbine installation at its 50MW Mannar Wind Farm, with the first two 5MW turbines fully erected and all ten turbines set for completion as tower work continues. Transport Safety: Up-country rail services resumed amid controversy, as station masters allege operations restarted without NBRO approval, after an office train derailment linked to earth and rock falls. Health Policy Debate: Rabies elimination efforts face renewed scrutiny, with veterinarians questioning whether Sri Lanka is spending too much on post-bite treatment instead of fully removing rabies in dogs. AI & Business Tech: EFutures is expanding from software engineering into AI consulting, data engineering and AI agent development to help firms move beyond standalone AI tools. Mobile & Consumer Tech: Dialog brings Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra 5G to Sri Lanka on Dialog 5G, while HMD and Dialog launch affordable 4G feature phones to support the shift from 2G. Trade & Research Links: Sri Lanka invited Indian businesses to “Sri Lanka Export 2027” in Colombo (Jan 14–17, 2027), and Pakistan and Sri Lanka plan a joint working group to deepen IT and telecom cooperation.

Rail Safety & Regulation: Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters warn the up-country line resumed without NBRO approval, after an office train derailment followed earth and rocks falling onto the track, urging a fresh assessment before services continue. Digital Trade Modernisation: Customs moved to paperless declarations with mandatory digital signatures, but analysts question whether this alone will reduce friction in the Port of Colombo’s wider logistics system. Renewable Energy Buildout: HayWind’s 50MW Mannar wind farm enters major turbine installation, with the first two 5MW turbines fully erected and large-scale crane operations underway. Education Connectivity: High-speed fibre internet rollout is reaching over 3,600 government secondary schools under the Gamata Sannivedanaya programme, with further connections in progress. Public Health Debate: A rabies elimination bill sparks concern that Sri Lanka may be spending too much on post-bite treatment instead of removing rabies from dogs, despite decades of vaccination and WHO-reported human deaths. Port Automation: Colombo West International Terminal’s Phase II expansion doubles capacity to 3.2m TEU and boosts automated deep-water handling. AI & Security in Finance: Softlogic Life becomes the first Sri Lankan insurer to achieve ISO/IEC 27001:2022, while Union Bank upgrades its legacy credit card system with BPC SmartVista to speed new services. Science & Food Tech: A Sri Lankan-led NASA-supported project explores 3D-printed protein cookies made from plastic waste and plant residues via microbial processing.

IMF Programme Update: Sri Lanka reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF for the Seventh Review of its EFF, unlocking about US$345m (subject to Executive Board approval) while the IMF urged fuel prices to keep moving with global markets and to protect vulnerable groups via targeted, time-bound support. Energy & Smart Grid: Sri Lanka secured US$57.4m for a rooftop solar and Virtual Net Metering project (ADB loan plus EU and Japan grants), aiming to upgrade EDL systems with smarter metering and distribution controls. Cybersecurity Certification: Softlogic Life became the first Sri Lankan insurer to earn ISO/IEC 27001:2022, strengthening information security as it expands digital insurance services. AI in Public Services: Government plans AI-powered public services built around “One Citizen One ID,” with privacy, security, inclusion and interoperability as guiding principles. Education Connectivity: The PM says the state will connect secondary schools nationwide by end-2026 and push safer, responsible technology use for children. Digital Hiring Tech: XpressJobs won a national AI award for its AI Recruitment Assistant, supporting candidate engagement via WhatsApp in Sinhala, Tamil and English. Energy Infrastructure: Work began on CPC’s Jet A-1 pipeline and new fuel storage tanks to improve aviation fuel supply and reduce logistics costs.

Education & Connectivity: Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya says Sri Lanka will connect all secondary schools to digital services by end-2026, alongside safer, more responsible tech use and curriculum upgrades for Grades 2 and 6 in 2027. Digital Economy & Awards: patpat.lk won bronze at SLIM DIGIS 2.6 for its SEO/SEM campaign, built with Antyra Solutions to improve search-intent matching across vehicles, property and services. Skills & Jobs: ADB approved a $100m results-based loan to transform Sri Lanka’s TVET system (2027–2031), aiming to better align training with employer needs and boost youth employment. Cyber Resilience: Deloitte Sri Lanka hosted a board-level discussion on cyber resilience, including crisis response planning and cyber wargaming to keep critical services running. Energy Infrastructure: CPC began work on the Jet A-1 pipeline and new oil storage tanks to strengthen aviation fuel supply and cut logistics costs. Mobile Tech Reality Check: Dialog claims district-wide 5G coverage with 1,000+ towers, but reporting suggests population coverage is under 40%, raising questions about what “coverage” means for users. Maritime Governance: Sri Lanka’s India talks on illegal bottom trawling were postponed at India’s request, with a new date still pending. AI Hiring Tools: XpressJobs’ AI Recruitment Assistant won at Sri Lanka AI Week for agentic recruitment support via WhatsApp in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Fisheries Diplomacy: Sri Lanka’s key India talks on illegal bottom trawling have been postponed at India’s request, with Colombo now seeking a new date around the parliamentary budget period as officials are barred from overseas travel; the dispute targets mechanised trawlers crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and depleting stocks after Sri Lanka’s 2017 bottom-trawling ban. Investment Climate Watch: The US State Department softened its view of Sri Lanka’s NPP leadership ideology, but kept its verdict that the investment climate remains challenging, citing mixed messages, bureaucracy, delays and high transaction costs; FDI in 2025 was reported at just US$1.06bn. Skills & Jobs: The ADB approved a $100m results-based loan to transform Sri Lanka’s TVET system (2027–2031), aiming to better match training with employer needs and help over 100,000 young people. Connectivity Reality Check: Dialog says its 5G spans all 25 districts with 1,000+ live sites, but its own reporting suggests population coverage is under 40%, raising questions about what “coverage” means for users. Energy Infrastructure: CPC has started the Jet A-1 pipeline and new aviation fuel storage tanks to improve fuel security and cut logistics costs. AI in Hiring: XpressJobs won a National AI Award for its AI recruitment assistant, built to support candidate engagement via WhatsApp in Sinhala, Tamil and English. Conservation Science: A study on Olive Ridley turtles in Odisha found distinct male/female movement patterns, including one female reaching waters east of Sri Lanka. Cyber Resilience: Deloitte Sri Lanka hosted a board-level discussion and cyber wargaming on keeping critical services running during AI-enabled fraud and cyber disruption.

Energy Infrastructure: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake attended the groundbreaking of CPC’s Jet A-1 pipeline from Muthurajawela to Katunayake plus new oil storage tanks, aiming to secure aviation fuel supply, cut logistics costs, and meet future demand. Renewables: Abans commissioned a 5 MW ground-mounted solar plant in Pallekele (Rs. 1.2 bn), adding EV charging and rooftop solar to its clean-energy push. Digital Identity/Connectivity: Dialog launched Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra 5G on its 5G Ultra network, while a separate report questions Dialog’s “district-wide” 5G reach versus its own coverage figures. AI in Hiring: XpressJobs won at Sri Lanka’s National AI Awards for its AI Recruitment Assistant, built to support candidate engagement via WhatsApp in Sinhala, Tamil and English. Education & Health: PM Harini Amarasuriya announced Rs. 33,600 million for the 2026 School Meals Program, expanding to 1.5 million students across 8,990 schools. Science & Conservation: A World Congress on Snakes in Kandy highlights Sri Lanka’s near-10,000 annual snakebite cases and the need for species-aware public health.

TV & Sports: India and Pakistan set for the Asian Games cricket final, with Sri Lanka’s semi-final loss to India still fresh and fans looking for where to watch the match. Skills & Jobs: The ADB approved a $100m results-based loan to overhaul Sri Lanka’s TVET system (2027–2031), aiming to close the skills gap and boost women’s entry into nontraditional jobs. Connectivity Reality Check: Dialog says its 5G covers all 25 districts with 1,000+ towers, but its own reporting suggests under 40% population coverage—raising questions about what “reach” really means. Energy & Industry: Abans commissioned a 5 MW ground-mounted solar plant (Rs. 1.2b) in Kandy, while EDB and SLAMERP pushed energy-efficiency upgrades for rubber manufacturing. Digital Economy: Digital Summit Asia Sri Lanka 2026 kicked off in Colombo, focusing on AI, creator economy and future digital advertising. Education Milestone: The Examinations Department marked 75 years, with PM Harini Amarasuriya highlighting its role in future-ready education. Public Health: A study links chewing tobacco to 251,000 deaths globally in 2023, with South Asia carrying most of the burden. Research & Conservation: A world congress on snakes in Kandy tackles snakebite deaths (nearly 10,000 cases yearly) and species survival science. Infrastructure: CPC/CPSTL began a Jet A-1 fuel pipeline and new storage tanks to strengthen aviation fuel security.

Digital Summit Asia 2026: DMASL’s first-ever Digital Summit Asia kicked off in Colombo with 600+ participants, aiming to connect Sri Lankan talent with regional leaders on AI, the creator economy, and future digital advertising. Education & Skills: ADB approved a $100m results-based loan to strengthen Sri Lanka’s TVET system and boost women’s employment in fields like engineering, ICT, construction and renewable energy (2027–2031). Health & Public Safety: A new IHME study links chewing tobacco to about 251,000 deaths globally in 2023, with South Asia carrying the bulk of the burden. Biodiversity & Research: Sri Lanka hosted the 1st World Congress on Snakes in Kandy, spotlighting snake science and conservation as the country reports nearly 10,000 snakebite cases annually. Trade & Tech Governance: Sri Lanka Customs went paperless and made digital signatures mandatory for customs declarations from 1 Oct, targeting faster clearance and less fraud. Energy Transition: Japan launched its first JFJCM project in Sri Lanka—rooftop solar aggregation with virtual net metering—adding grid battery storage and cutting technical losses. SME Growth & Payments: Visa backed Scale Up 2.0, a national SME forum focused on market access, standards, investment readiness and digital innovation. AI Recognition: CodeGen’s TravelBox AI and Lumos were recognized at SLIM DIGIS 2.6 and the National AI Awards 2026.

AI in Media: Wijeya Newspapers’ Digital Media Manager Moiz Mustafa won Gold at the National AI Awards 2026 for AI-assisted public information and a dengue awareness campaign with a live case tracker and interactive quiz. Digital Trade & Customs: Sri Lanka Customs went paperless from 1 Oct 2026, making digital signatures mandatory for all customs declarations to speed clearance and cut fraud. Digital Economy Push: Digital Summit Asia Sri Lanka 2026 opened in Colombo, with officials pointing to Sri Lanka’s submarine cable access, AI for public services, and a target of $5bn in digital exports by 2030. Investment Climate Watch: A US State Department report says Sri Lanka’s recovery is real but foreign investors still face policy reversals, regulatory uncertainty, and delays; FDI in 2025 was $1.06bn. Health & Longevity Research: A study links population aging to higher government health spending across South Asia, while the UN marked International Day of Older Persons with a call to rethink systems for longer lives. Biodiversity Science: Sri Lanka hosted the 1st World Congress on Snakes in Kandy, spotlighting 63 endemic snake species and threats from habitat loss and climate change.

Digital Economy & AI: Digital Summit Asia Sri Lanka 2026 kicked off in Colombo, with Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne pushing AI-led public services, a cashless push via QR payments, and a target of $5bn in digital exports by 2030. AI in Media: Wijeya Newspapers’ Moiz Mustafa won Gold at the National AI Awards 2026 for AI-assisted public-information content, including a dengue awareness campaign with interactive tools. Transport & Resilience: The World Bank approved $110m to repair 600km of cyclone-damaged roads, using climate-resilient standards to restore access to markets, schools and health facilities. Investment Climate: The US State Department said Sri Lanka’s recovery is real but foreign investors still face policy uncertainty, regulatory delays and mixed signals, with 2025 FDI at $1.06bn. Biodiversity Science: Sri Lanka hosted the 1st World Congress on Snakes in Kandy, spotlighting 63 endemic species and threats from habitat loss and climate change. Health Research: A new study estimates chewing tobacco caused about 251,000 deaths globally in 2023, with South Asia carrying most of the burden, including Sri Lanka. Energy Tech: Storex Renewables launched Sigenergy’s SigenStor Neo as Sri Lanka moves toward Net Plus, pushing consumers toward solar-plus-storage independence. Regional Tech Links: A JVP delegation met India’s Jaishankar in New Delhi to discuss Sri Lanka-India ties, including technology and investment.

World Bank Funding: The World Bank approved $110m to help Sri Lanka repair and reconstruct about 600 km of roads damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, using climate-resilient designs like better drainage and landslide protection. Child Safety Online: PM Harini Amarasuriya marked World Children’s Day by calling for stronger protection for children from violence, online harm, and exploitation, including tougher penalties and safer digital spaces. Digital Education: Deputy Minister Madhura Seneviratne said Sri Lanka will integrate digital technology into teaching and school administration, with new Advanced Level science labs and upgrades for selected primary schools. Snake Science Congress: Sri Lanka will host the first World Congress on Snakes (Oct 1–4) in Kandy, bringing 400+ delegates to focus on snake biology, conservation, and snakebite public health. Digital Identity & Security: Noblis received a US patent for an access control system that continuously checks identity using biometrics plus environmental monitoring. Digital ID Pilot Push: Sri Lanka targets a year-end digital ID pilot as funding talks with India continue. Cyber/Privacy Warning: The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs urged parents to be careful when posting children’s photos and videos online. Local Tech/Jobs: Sri Lanka’s central bank held its key rate at 8.75%, while recovery and investment themes continue to shape the tech-and-infrastructure agenda.

World Congress on Snakes: Sri Lanka will host the first-ever dedicated World Congress on Snakes (Oct 1–4) in Kandy, bringing 400+ delegates from 25 countries to focus on snake biology, conservation and the growing public-health challenge of snakebite. Digital Education: The Education Ministry says digital tech will be integrated into teaching, school administration and teacher transfer systems, alongside student-safety measures, as new A/L science labs are built at Kirimatiyana Buddhist Girls’ National School. Roads After Cyclone Ditwah: The World Bank approved US$110m to rebuild about 600 km of cyclone-damaged roads using climate-resilient standards, including drainage and landslide protection. Sri Lanka AI Week 2026: Sri Lanka’s AI Week opened with an AI Expo and Conference (AI Amplified), featuring 60+ speakers and local rollout plans for AI-ready infrastructure and new AI products. Digital ID Push: Sri Lanka targets an in-house pilot of its SL-UDI digital identity by end-2026, using a phased approach while funding talks with India continue. Biometrics Security Patent: Noblis received a US patent for continuous access control that keeps verifying identity and environmental conditions during a session. Central Bank Rate: CBSL held the policy rate at 8.75%, citing anchored medium-term inflation expectations despite near-term price pressures.

Sri Lanka AI Week 2026: SLT Mobitel and the Digital Economy Ministry kicked off the National AI Expo and Conference (29–30 Sep) with a push from AI exploration to real deployment, including plans to launch 8–10 AI products and AI-ready infrastructure. Digital Identity: Sri Lanka is aiming for an in-house pilot of its SL-UDI digital ID by end-2026, starting with a Minimum Viable Product for government employees while funding talks with India continue. Enterprise Reporting: Softlogic Life launched its 2025 Annual Report as Sri Lanka’s first five-part AI-powered intelligence ecosystem, turning corporate reporting into interactive, personalised, multilingual audio and sentiment-driven access. Customs Goes Paperless: Sri Lanka Customs will start electronic, paperless customs declarations from 1 Oct to speed processing, improve traceability, and enable risk-based inspections. Energy Tech Awards: First Energy won two clean-energy awards for a building-integrated solar installation at People’s Bank head office. Food & Tech Collaboration: NIT Rourkela hosted a Sri Lanka–India workshop on turning food industry waste into value-added products. Governance & Ethics Training: CICRA Campus launched Sri Lanka’s first EC-Council credential for responsible AI governance and ethics (CRAGE).