President calls on private sector to rev Sri Lanka’s transition to digital economy

• Inaugurates National IT and BPM Exhibition Week
• Outlines three-pronged strategy: competitive economy, sustainable green economy, digital advancement
• Reveals plan for new university system based on Kotelawala Defence University model, promotion of non-Government universities
• Asserts Sri Lanka’s future hinges on technological and green sectors, requiring skilled workforce
• Urges citizens to explore job opportunities within SL to boost local economy, reduce foreign exchange outflows
• Calls for cooperation in capturing potential sources of skilled labour

President Ranil Wickremesinghe extended an invitation to the private sector to actively participate in revving Sri Lanka’s transition to the digital economy. 

Inaugurating the National Information Technology and Business Process Management Professional (IT/BPM) Exhibition at BMICH on Wednesday, Wickre-mesinghe encouraged a shift in focus towards how Sri Lanka can benefit from the event. The National IT and BPM Week will be held till 13 October aiming to fast-track Sri Lanka’s transition into a digital economy. The key objectives of the event include; providing insights into cutting-edge technology, fostering skill development, offering career guidance, and creating opportunities for IT entrepreneurship.

The exhibition targets a diverse audience, including school and university students, vocational education candidates, job seekers, and budding entrepreneurs within the Western Province. Over the course of three days, attendees will have access to industry and career counselling, internships, job placements, and workshops focusing on IT and business processes, all facilitated by technical education institutions. 

President Wickremesinghe acknowledged the economic challenges faced by Sri Lanka and stressed the importance of achieving stability, addressing loan repayments, and fulfilling import requirements to bolster foreign exchange reserves. 

The President announced a three-pronged strategy to end the debt cycle that focuses on building a competitive economy, supporting a healthy green economy, and promoting the digital sphere. 

“A skilled workforce, proficient in information technology, plays a crucial role in realising this vision. To this end, we are embarking on establishing a new university system based on the Kotelawala Defence University model, with a vision to encourage non-Government universities that reinvest profits into education,” he said, adding that the integration of vocational training centres, vocational colleges, and modernising professional training programs are part of the comprehensive plan. 

Wickremesinghe also underscored that the country’s future hinges on technological and green sectors, necessitating comprehensive training initiatives to produce a workforce surpassing immediate needs. 

He encouraged citizens to explore job opportunities within Sri Lanka, insisting that this approach not only strengthens the local economy but also curtails foreign exchange outflows. 

The President seized the opportunity presented by declining populations in East Asian countries, calling for cooperation in tapping into this potential source of skilled labour. 

Wickremesinghe called on the audience to reflect on their readiness to participate in this transformative journey, highlighting the involvement of Prime Minister’s Secretary Anura Dissanayake and secretaries from relevant ministries. 

Key figures including State Minister of Technology Kanaka Herath, Prime Minister’s Secretary Dissanayake and representatives from various technology and business sectors were present at the event, signifying a collective commitment to shaping a brighter, technology-driven future for Sri Lanka.