Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has endorsed the Computer Society of Sri Lanka’s (CSSL) ambitious plan to develop a digitally skilled workforce of five million people by 2030, describing it as a timely national priority for Sri Lanka’s digital future.

Delivering her address at the inauguration of the 44th National Information Technology Conference (NITC 2026), held at Shangri-La Colombo under the theme “Human-Centric Skills Towards Society 5.0,” the Prime Minister said the initiative comes at a decisive moment for the country. The conference, organised by CSSL which celebrates its 50th year, brings together policymakers, industry leaders, academia and technology professionals to advance Sri Lanka’s human-centric digital transformation agenda.

“CSSL, which introduced Society 5.0 to the nation in 2024, now comes forward with an ambition to build a digitally skilled workforce of five million people by 2030, in its 50th year. This has come at the need of the hour,” Prime Minister Dr. Amarasuriya said.

She emphasised that Sri Lanka’s future would depend not merely on the technologies the country adopts, but on its ability to equip every citizen with the digital knowledge, skills and confidence needed to participate meaningfully in a rapidly changing economy.

“As Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, I fully endorse CSSL’s human-centric workforce development agenda and its proposed National Digital Workforce Index,” the Prime Minister stated.

Dr. Amarasuriya said schools, universities and vocational training institutions must work closely with industry to ensure that education and training remain relevant, inclusive and responsive to emerging needs in artificial intelligence, data, cybersecurity and digital services.

“The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education stands ready to support and carry out this national initiative, so that digital transformation becomes a pathway to opportunity, dignity and shared prosperity for all Sri Lankans,” she added.

CSSL’s workforce agenda seeks to move beyond basic digital literacy towards a coordinated national effort covering digital proficiency, artificial intelligence and data skills, cybersecurity awareness, digital privacy and the human capabilities required in an AI-enabled economy. The proposed National Digital Workforce Index is expected to provide a structured mechanism to assess workforce readiness, identify skills gaps and track progress towards the five-million target.

The Prime Minister’s endorsement reinforces the growing alignment between Sri Lanka’s education and vocational training reforms and the country’s broader ambition of building a competitive, inclusive and resilient digital economy by 2030

President CSSL Mr Heshan Karunaratne,Conference Chiar, Vice President CSSL Mr Indika De Zoysa and Hon  Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eng Eranga Weeraratna too addressed the audience which  consisted of hundreds of policy makers, industry and academia.