The analysis, which examined generative AI adoption and ChatGPT usage per capita, found Sri Lanka ranked second in South Asia—behind the Maldives but ahead of India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal—in the number of ChatGPT users per capita.
The report said Sri Lanka’s high exposure stems from its heavy dependence on skilled, white-collar service jobs, which form an unusually large share of GDP, exports, and formal employment. Across South Asia, an average of 22 percent of jobs are exposed to AI, with Sri Lanka and Bhutan showing the highest exposure rates.
While this presents opportunities for productivity gains, it also poses serious risks. The World Bank noted that Sri Lanka ranks lowest in the share of exposed jobs that are complementary to AI, suggesting a greater risk of displacement compared to regional peers such as India.
Jobs identified as most vulnerable include call centre work, data entry, payroll processing, business process management (BPM), and ICT services.
Demand for AI-related skills, however, is rising sharply. The report found that 7.3 percent of white-collar job listings in 2025 in Sri Lanka required AI expertise—by far the highest in the region. Globally, such roles command an average 28 percent wage premium compared to other digital-skill jobs.
To harness AI’s potential without worsening job losses, experts stress the need for foundational reforms. Sri Lanka lacks key prerequisites such as a large pool of highly skilled workers, reliable electricity, and high-speed internet.
The report also highlighted that fixed broadband speeds in South Asia average only a quarter of those in advanced economies, limiting the data processing capacity required for AI applications.
The World Bank urged policymakers to strengthen the foundations for maximising AI’s benefits through investment in digital infrastructure, energy, and policies supporting labour mobility to mitigate labour market disruptions.
