President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s address at the recent AI summit in India, was both timely and ambitious. He spoke of a future shaped by artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and technological self-reliance. He emphasised that Sri Lanka must not remain on the margins of this transformation, but actively participate in shaping it. It was a speech that resonated with optimism, particularly for a country seeking renewed momentum after years of economic strain.
The President’s remarks reflected an undeniable truth. The world is being redefined by digital systems. Artificial intelligence is entering governance, healthcare, agriculture, education, and commerce. Nations that adapt quickly stand to gain in productivity, competitiveness, and efficiency. Those that hesitate risk falling further behind.
Sri Lanka’s leadership is right to recognise this shift. Digital governance can reduce bureaucratic delays. Data-driven policymaking can improve resource allocation. Technology can expand access to services, connect entrepreneurs to markets, and enhance transparency. In a global economy increasingly driven by innovation, digital capability is not a luxury but a necessity.
Yet every bold vision must eventually confront everyday reality. The challenge is not merely adopting advanced technologies, but ensuring that society is prepared to use them meaningfully and safely. A digital future cannot be built on uneven foundations.
This is where recent domestic developments offer a sobering counterpoint. The Welfare Benefits Board revealed that more than 85,000 beneficiaries under the Aswesuma welfare scheme risk losing their assistance because they failed to update their information in time for the annual review. In addition, thousands of qualified applicants have not received benefits simply because they have not opened bank accounts, often due to lacking essential identification documents.
These figures are more than administrative statistics. They reflect a deeper tension within Sri Lanka’s digital transition. While policymakers promote online systems and digital processes, many citizens remain constrained by limited digital literacy, inconsistent connectivity, and procedural complexity.
From one perspective, the State’s approach is understandable. Welfare programmes require accurate data. Annual updates ensure benefits are directed to those who qualify. Digital platforms reduce paperwork, cut processing times, and help prevent fraud. In a country managing scarce public funds, efficiency and accountability are essential.
Indeed, our past welfare systems have long been criticised for targeting weaknesses and leakages. Digitisation promises to address these structural problems. Technology, when properly implemented, can strengthen governance.
But the Aswesuma situation highlights an uncomfortable reality. Digital systems assume a baseline level of technological familiarity that cannot be taken for granted. For citizens in remote or underserved communities, updating information online may not be straightforward. Even manual submission can be hindered by logistical barriers, misunderstandings, or communication gaps.
The issue is not resistance to technology. It is capacity. Many vulnerable citizens are navigating a digital landscape that feels unfamiliar and, at times, unforgiving. Missing a deadline or misinterpreting an instruction can carry serious consequences when livelihoods depend on compliance.
Supporters of rapid digitalisation argue that Sri Lanka cannot afford to slow down. The global technological race will not wait. Delays could cost investment, innovation, and growth. They are not wrong. The President’s emphasis at the summit reflects a strategic urgency that Sri Lanka must embrace.
Critics, however, caution that digital ambition must be matched by social readiness. Without sustained investment in digital literacy and citizen education, technological reforms risk widening inequalities. A society where digital fluency determines access to essential services is a society at risk of new forms of marginalisation.
This tension is not unique to Sri Lanka. It is a defining challenge of the information age. The question is not whether to modernise, but how to do so without leaving segments of the population behind.
Therefore, digital literacy must be treated as a national priority, not an afterthought. Citizens need not become experts in artificial intelligence, but they must be equipped with the skills to navigate digital systems, interpret online communication, and protect themselves from cyber risks.
We stand at an important crossroads. The President’s words at the summit capture a future filled with possibility. The Aswesuma experience reminds us that progress must be measured not only by technological adoption, but by accessibility and inclusion.