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New National Artificial Intelligence Strategy aligns with national and international best practices
View(s):By Tharushi Weerasinghe
The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy was launched earlier this week led by the Presidential Secretariat and supported by the Ministry of Technology.
The strategy, that has received a Rs 1 bn budget allocation for 2024, is being funded collaboratively by the Treasury and the United Nations Development Programme. According to Presidential Secretariat sources, the strategy was developed by a committee that included volunteers from the private sector, international organisations, Lankan experts overseas, and the state sector. Additional support came from the World Bank, SLASSCOM, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and FITIS. “UNDP provided staff and resources for the research and writing process, ensuring that the strategy aligns with national and international best practices,” the source told the Sunday Times.
The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy being handed over to President Ranil Wickrememesinghe
Funding would be allocated by the National Centre for AI (NCAI) initially to sectors such as healthcare, education, finance, agriculture, public sector services,and public safety. “These sectors were selected for their readiness and potential to demonstrate early AI adoption and impact,” the source said.
In the healthcare sector, AI will be used for areas such as diagnostics, patient management, and predictive analytics for disease outbreaks. The education sector will introduce AI-driven tools for personalised learning, administrative automation, and intelligent tutoring systems. AI is also set to be used by the finance sector for fraud detection, customer service automation, and risk management. In agriculture, experts will employ AI to optimise crop management and yields using data from satellites and drones. Public sector services are also being set up for an AI-based streamlining process, particularly by automating routine administrative tasks, enhancing public engagement, and improving policy decision-making. Public safety initiatives will use predictive policing to anticipate crime patterns and AI-driven disaster management systems for real-time response and resource allocation.
Specific AI projects, particularly those with high impact potential, will receive funding based on their feasibility and alignment with the strategy’s objectives. Additional resources will be allocated to infrastructure development, public awareness campaigns, and skills development programmes to ensure a “balanced investment in the nation’s AI capabilities.”
The NCAI, which the Presidential Secretariat noted was staffed with a team of AI scientists, data engineers, software developers, and specialists in AI governance and ethics, will also manage the operations of the strategy. “These experts will be responsible for developing, deploying, and monitoring AI projects across various sectors.”
The Secretariat source said training programmes will be implemented by the NCAI to ensure that staff and stakeholders remain updated on the latest AI technologies and best practices, covering AI ethics, data governance, and sector-specific applications.
The structured methodology of the strategy will be led by this team. “Skills development will be a priority, with the NCAI launching training programmes for AI practitioners and decision-makers across targeted sectors.” These programmes will be integrated into educational institutions and supported by partnerships between the public and private sectors to ensure broad access. Public awareness campaigns will be launched nationwide to educate citizens on the benefits and risks of AI technologies.
The strategy also emphasises the enhancement of data governance and infrastructure with the creation of open data portals to provide high-quality, standardised datasets, and the expansion of digital infrastructure, such as high-speed internet and cloud computing, to support AI initiatives across sectors. Additionally, the strategy proposes the development of shared AI infrastructure, including cloud platforms accessible to startups, researchers, and government agencies. This infrastructure will be designed with security, scalability, and sustainability in mind.
“The NCAI will actively engage both the private and public sectors by offering innovation grants to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for AI adoption and leading the implementation of pilot AI projects in the public sector,” the source said.
The development of AI-related legislation will also be a focus, addressing issues such as data privacy, ethics, and security to ensure that legal frameworks keep pace with technological advancements.
The strategy, which extends until 2028, includes several projects planned for 2024. These include the establishment of AI clubs in educational institutions to engage students in AI-related activities and the production of AI-supported educational films in collaboration with the Ministry of Technology, University of Moratuwa, and University of Visual and Performing Arts and will educate school children on ethical AI use. Additionally, nationwide AI awareness campaigns targeting school children will be conducted under the National Future Talent Initiative (NFTI) – an AI Engineering Training Programme, developed in partnership with academia and the private sector, that will address the growing demand for AI professionals.
The AI Innovation Hub programme will be launched to accelerate digital transformation across various sectors, and the Government’s Open Data Portal will be reactivated and updated to provide curated, high-quality datasets.
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