The National AI Expo & Conference will be a landmark national platform designed to propel Sri Lanka's journey towards an AI-powered future, directly supporting the country's strategic vision to expand the digital economy from an estimated US$3.5 billion in 2025 to US$15 billion in 2030.
Artificial intelligence is projected to contribute 10-12% of this ambitious growth trajectory, positioning AI as a cornerstone in Sri Lanka's economic transformation.
The historic collaboration between the Ministry of Digital Economy and SLT-MOBITEL demonstrates unprecedented unity in driving national technological advancement. The collaboration is further strengthened by SLASSCOM's contribution as the event's Ecosystem Partner, highlighting its ongoing commitment to catalysing growth within Sri Lanka's digital space.
The framework aligns seamlessly with Sri Lanka's broader digital economy goals and long-term vision of establishing the nation as a regional technology leader, ensuring inclusive growth reaches every citizen.
President Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake will unveil Sri Lanka's comprehensive AI roadmap during the conference, alongside the unveiling of a National AI Fund and Centre for AI Excellence.
The event will feature exhibitions, keynotes, and hands-on workshops, positioning Sri Lanka as a competitive regional AI hub. An impressive lineup of thought leaders from leading global technology companies will attend, including Huawei's Li Shi, Head Middle East, speaking on AI infrastructure solutions, telco cloud strategies, and 5G integration.
Meta will participate through Sandya Devanathan, Vice President & Head - India and South-East Asia, and Kim-Leng Hoeu, Agency Partner, Global Network Agencies at Meta, demonstrating AI applications in social platforms and business transformation.
The presence of these tech giants set a vibrant platform in offering Sri Lankan businesses direct access to world-class AI technologies.
The conference will address AI applications across critical sectors including Agriculture, Healthcare, Finance & Banking, Education, Manufacturing, Transportation, E-commerce, Insurance, Hospitality, and Environmental management. Core themes include National AI Strategy development, Responsible AI governance and ethics,
AI implementation challenges, skills development, and sector-specific applications. Special focus will be on localization challenges such as language processing, cultural adaptation, and bridging generational gaps in AI literacy, in addition to addressing citizen services in healthcare, education, and public safety, plus AI scaling solutions for SMEs and startups.
Phase 2 of the initiative, scheduled from November 2025 to May 2026, will expand into regional hubs including Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Kandy, and Matara, with the goal that AI literacy and adoption reach every corner of the island. The comprehensive approach highlights the government's commitment to leaving no community behind in Sri Lanka's digital transformation.
The National AI Expo also aims to support SMEs and MSMEs, showcasing technological solutions to uplift and enable a digitally literate lifestyle for all sectors of society. Through Presidential Awards recognizing excellence in AI innovation, the event will celebrate Sri Lankan ingenuity and inspire continued advancement in artificial intelligence applications.
During the conference, extensive networking opportunities will enable collaboration between academia, startups, leading companies, local innovators, and international investors, creating an ecosystem of collective success to drive Sri Lanka as a regional AI powerhouse.
