Sri Lanka needs to achieve many more beyond digital transformation: Sagala Ratnayaka

Sagala Ratnayaka, the President’s Senior Advisor on National Security and Presidential Chief of Staff said recently that while digital transformation is critical for Sri Lanka, there are other barriers it has to overcome to achieve real economic growth.

He said so while delivering the keynote address at the 16th International Research Conference – 2023, of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, under the theme ‘Achieving Resilience through Digitalization, Sustainability and Sectoral Transformation.”.

He underscored the conference’s theme, emphasizing the significance of digital transformation in various sectors, including business, public services and governance. He also highlighted the need for a cultural shift to adapt to digitalization, cautioning against potential risks for individuals lacking digital skills, such as fraud, data distortion, identity theft and cyber bullying. He stressed the importance of thoughtful technology implementation and a society-wide approach to address these challenges.

“However, there’s also the downside of digitalization. The vulnerable and those lacking in skills could be susceptible to risks like fraud, data distortion, identity theft, and cyber bullying. The advent of artificial intelligence could also negatively impact people’s lives if not addressed correctly. Whether technology empowers or harms is a matter of choices we make. Therefore, technology needs to be thoughtfully designed and applied with a society-wide approach,” he said.

“For Sri Lanka, digital transformation is just one piece of the puzzle. To reach its potential, the country needs to address various aspects, including economic growth, reforming state-owned enterprises, creating a favourable economic climate for investment and opening up while maintaining the right regulations and safeguards. This approach, combined with research and education, will help Sri Lanka achieve its potential,” Ratnayaka said.