Building on 50 years of professional leadership, the Computer Society of Sri Lanka aims to help prepare the nation’s workforce for emerging technologies, changing industry requirements and the country’s USD 15 billion digital economy ambition.
Fifty years ago, the founders of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) recognized the transformative potential of computing and established an environment in which ICT professionals could develop their knowledge, advance their profession and contribute to national progress. Today, having reached its 50-year milestone, CSSL is looking towards a new national mission: helping prepare Sri Lanka’s digitally ready workforce for an increasingly intelligent, AI-driven world.
Building on the vision of its founders, CSSL is championing the national ambition to develop a digitally ready workforce of five million people by 2030. This ambition recognises that the country’s future competitiveness will depend not only on technology infrastructure and digital investment, but also on the ability of its people to adapt, innovate and thrive as emerging technologies reshape industries and the nature of work.
The ambition was highlighted at the 44th National ICT Conference (NITC 2026), organised by CSSL under the theme “Human-Centric Skills Towards Society 5.0: Powering Sri Lanka’s Digital Economy.” The conference brought together policymakers, industry leaders, technology professionals and other stakeholders to consider how Sri Lanka can prepare its people and institutions for the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly evolving digital world.
Indika De Zoysa, Vice President of CSSL and Conference Chair of NITC 2026, said the organisation’s future contribution must build on the vision of its founders while responding to the changing needs of the nation.
Fifty years ago, the founders of CSSL saw the future of computing and created an environment for ICT professionals to develop their knowledge, advance their profession and contribute to national progress. Today, we must carry that vision forward. As technology transforms industries and changes the nature of work, our responsibility must extend beyond the ICT profession. We must help prepare the entire nation for an intelligent world in which digital capabilities, human adaptability and innovation will be central to economic competitiveness,” he said.
The ambition to develop five million digitally ready people is not simply about training people to use computers or digital applications. It is about developing a workforce equipped to respond to changing industry requirements, adopt emerging technologies, improve productivity and create new economic opportunities. As artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and data-driven decision-making become increasingly integrated into business and public services, Sri Lanka must ensure that its workforce is prepared to participate in and benefit from these developments.
Digital readiness must encompass foundational digital literacy and workplace technology proficiency, alongside capabilities in artificial intelligence, data, cybersecurity, digital privacy and responsible technology use. Equally important are human capabilities such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, problem-solving, adaptability and lifelong learning. These skills will help workers navigate changing occupational requirements and work effectively alongside intelligent technologies.
Our industries are changing rapidly, and workforce readiness must become a national economic priority. If Sri Lanka is to attract investment, strengthen exports, improve productivity and create quality employment, our people must be prepared for the technologies and business models shaping the future. We need to prepare not only for the jobs that exist today, but also for the new opportunities and challenges that will emerge, De Zoysa added.
The national ambition complements Sri Lanka’s goal of building a USD 15 billion digital economy by 2030. While the digital economy goal focuses on expanding the economic value generated through digital technologies, the digitally ready workforce ambition addresses the human capabilities needed to support that growth. The two ambitions are closely connected: without people who can adopt technologies, develop innovative solutions and improve organisational performance, the country risks missing significant opportunities for economic transformation.
This effort must extend across all sectors of the economy, not just ICT. Agriculture, tourism, healthcare, education, manufacturing, financial services, logistics, public administration and small and medium-sized enterprises all require people who can use digital technologies effectively and adapt to evolving business models. A digitally ready workforce can help improve service delivery, strengthen enterprise competitiveness, encourage innovation and expand access to new economic opportunities throughout Sri Lanka.
CSSL President Heshan Karunaratne emphasised the importance of collaboration in advancing the national ambition and building on the organisation’s 50-year legacy.
The founders of CSSL established a professional foundation that has supported the development of Sri Lanka’s ICT community for five decades. As we build on that legacy, we must also respond to the needs of the wider nation. Preparing a digitally ready workforce requires collaboration among government, industry, education providers and the professional community. CSSL is looking at working with all relevant stakeholders to advance this national ambition and help ensure that Sri Lanka’s people are prepared for the opportunities and challenges of an intelligent world,” he said.
Achieving this ambition will require a coordinated national approach to identifying skills gaps, aligning education and training with industry needs, and expanding opportunities for reskilling and upskilling. Government, employers, universities, vocational training institutions, professional bodies and technology providers will all have important roles to play. Clear definitions of digital readiness, measurable indicators and regular progress assessments will also be essential to ensure that skills development translates into meaningful outcomes.
To support this direction, CSSL has highlighted the Human-Centric Digital Adaptation Triangle, which connects human capabilities, technology adoption and an enabling ecosystem. The approach recognises that technology alone cannot deliver meaningful transformation; people need the skills to use it effectively, organisations must be ready to adopt it, and the wider environment must support responsible innovation.
CSSL has also proposed a National Digital Workforce Index as a potential mechanism to assess workforce readiness, identify skills gaps and monitor progress. Developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, such an index could help policymakers, employers and education providers understand the country’s digital skills landscape and identify priorities for investment and action.
As Sri Lanka moves towards 2030, preparing for an intelligent world will require sustained commitment and investment in people. The national ambition of a five-million digitally ready workforce represents an opportunity to strengthen the country’s human capital, improve
The challenge ahead is not simply to adopt new technologies, but to ensure that Sri Lanka’s people have the skills and capabilities to thrive in an intelligent world. By bringing stakeholders together around the national ambition of a five-million digitally ready workforce by 2030, CSSL seeks to help transform technological change into greater productivity, stronger industries and sustainable national economic progress.
