On the sidelines of the Asia Tech 2026 Conference in Singapore, a high-level bilateral meeting was held on 20 May 2026 between Sri Lanka and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aimed at strengthening and accelerating Sri Lanka’s digital transformation agenda.
The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne. During the discussions, Sri Lanka was commended for its strong commitment to building an inclusive and practical digital transformation framework across the region.
The main focus of the engagement was exploring technical and advisory collaboration to support Sri Lanka’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy and its “AI for Public Good” initiative. Both parties agreed that Sri Lanka’s draft national AI policy framework would be reviewed by the Gates Foundation, alongside plans to initiate structured technical dialogues to strengthen Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and data-driven governance systems.
Further discussions also covered the “Inclusive Digital Agriculture Transformation (IDAT 2)” programme, following a request from the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture. The initiative will place stronger emphasis on improving agricultural productivity, enhancing market access, building climate resilience, and delivering AI-powered advisory services directly to farmers.
In addition, opportunities for regional collaboration were explored, including engagement with Singapore’s “AI Singapore” initiative to support public sector AI adoption and capacity building, and India’s “EkStep” platform to develop Digital Public Goods and multilingual AI infrastructure. Arrangements were also discussed for the CEO of GovTech Sri Lanka to undertake a knowledge exchange visit to Bangalore to study global best practices in Digital ID systems.
The Sri Lankan delegation included Sanjaya Karunasena, while the Gates Foundation delegation was led by senior representative Hari Menon.
EDB Launches Awareness Programme for Light Engineering Exporters
The Export Development Board (EDB) has launched a dedicated Awareness Programme for exporters and potential exporters in Sri Lanka’s light engineering sector, aimed at strengthening the industry’s export competitiveness.
The programme, organised by the Industrial Products Division of the EDB, was inaugurated on 19 May 2026 at the EDB headquarters in Colombo.
Conducted in collaboration with the Foundry Development Services Institute (FDSI) and the Department of Government Factory, the initiative targets both existing exporters and new entrants to the sector. It was developed in response to industry feedback calling for a more practical, technically focused programme to help navigate increasing global competition in manufacturing.
The training covered 19 key areas under two broad themes. The first focused on export and business development, including global market opportunities, the strategic importance of foundry technology, and the use of modern tools such as simulation in product development. It also addressed energy efficiency, international testing standards, green manufacturing practices, and sustainable production methods.
The second phase of the programme was conducted at the Department of Government Factory and FDSI premises, where participants received hands-on technical training in pattern-making, melting and casting processes, and moulding techniques. This practical segment also covered defect identification and correction, foundry modernisation, pollution control, and quality assurance systems.
Officials highlighted that environmentally friendly production methods and strong quality assurance standards are now essential for accessing European and Asian export markets, making sustainability and compliance a key focus of the programme.
Deputy Minister for Digital Economy Holds High-Level Bilateral Talks with Gates Foundation in Singapore
