Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated as the Chief Guest at the University of Colombo International Conference.
The conference is held under the theme 'Advancing an Inclusive Future through AI, Sustainability and Innovation' and will be held on 28–29 October 2026 at the Main Auditorium, UCFM Tower, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
Addressing the conference, the Prime Minister highlighted the vital role of universities and research institutions in shaping the country’s future by generating knowledge, promoting critical thinking and developing solutions to national challenges.
She emphasised that ensuring equitable access to quality education is a fundamental national responsibility, and that the benefits of development must be shared equitably among all communities.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that artificial intelligence presents both significant opportunities and important responsibilities. While AI has the potential to improve education, strengthen research, enhance public services and create new economic opportunities, its risks including inaccurate information, bias, data privacy concerns and unequal access, must be addressed.
She stressed the importance of promoting the responsible use of AI, strengthening digital literacy and ensuring that human judgement, accountability and the public interest remain central to decisions involving these technologies.
The Prime Minister further emphasised that innovation must serve the public interest, research must inform national priorities, and the opportunities created by emerging technologies must be shared more equitably. Achieving these goals, she noted, requires sustained cooperation and a strong sense of collective responsibility.
The occasion was attended by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake, officials of the Ministry of Education, Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,academics and researchers, and the members of the University community.
