Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has stressed the importance of inclusive education, responsible artificial intelligence (AI) and research-driven development in shaping Sri Lanka’s future.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya made these remarks while participating as the Chief Guest at the University of Colombo International Conference 2026.
The two-day conference, held under the theme “Advancing an Inclusive Future through AI, Sustainability and Innovation,” is taking place at the Main Auditorium of the UCFM Tower, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister highlighted the role of universities and research institutions in generating knowledge, promoting critical thinking and developing solutions to national challenges, THE Office of the Prime Minister said in a statement.
She said ensuring equitable access to quality education was a fundamental national responsibility, adding that the benefits of development should be shared fairly among all communities.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya also pointed out that AI offered significant opportunities to improve education, strengthen research, enhance public services and create new economic opportunities.
However, she cautioned that risks associated with the technology, including inaccurate information, bias, data privacy concerns and unequal access, needed to be addressed.
The Prime Minister emphasised the need to promote the responsible use of AI, strengthen digital literacy and ensure that human judgement, accountability and the public interest remained central to decisions involving emerging technologies.
She further noted that innovation should serve the public interest, research should guide national priorities, and the benefits of technological advancement should be shared more equitably.
Achieving these objectives would require sustained cooperation and a strong sense of collective responsibility, she added.
The event was attended by University of Colombo Vice-Chancellor Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake, officials from the Ministry of Education, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, academics, researchers and members of the university community.
