President meets Meta Global Affairs President in New York

Thursday, 21 September 2023 03:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday met with Meta President of Global Affairs Sir Nick Clegg in New York on the side-lines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

During their discussions, President Wickremesinghe highlighted the Government’s new initiatives to combat online hate speech and the spread of fake news. He emphasised that the proposed bill would allow concerned parties to challenge specific aspects through the Supreme Court and further revisions could be considered during the Parliamentary Committee review.

The President was briefed on Meta’s advancements in Artificial Intelligence, with a particular emphasis on open-source technologies.

Both parties explored potential collaborations between the Sri Lankan Government and Meta in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). One of the proposals discussed was the development of a collaborative program between Meta and Sri Lankan universities aimed at advancing AI technology.

President Wickremesinghe emphasised his two primary areas of focus: fostering the growth of the AI sector in the country, especially in the realm of education and utilising AI to support data-driven initiatives aimed at addressing climate change.

Accompanying the President were Senior Advisor for Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardena; President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake; BOI Chairman Dinesh Weerakody and International Affairs Director Dinouk Colombage.