Sri Lanka launches draft policy framework to promote artificial intelligence
Sri Lanka Association of Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) has reportedly launched a draft policy framework to promote artificial intelligence (AI) in the country.
AI, a market which is expected to exceed more than US$ 191 billion by 2024, will be introduced as a new pillar on top of the two predominantly-relied pillars which steered the IT/BPM sector’s growth over the last few years – software development and finance and accounting outsourcing (FAO), the local media has reported.
According to the media reports, the knowledge and innovation chamber of the country will use this draft to drive, debate and discuss the opportunities and challenges of the technology to have a robust AI policy framework within the next three to six months.
SLASSCOM Chairman Jeevan Gnanam has said at the launch event that Sri Lanka has the opportunity to “draw upon a blank canvas” with the right use of AI as the fourth industrial revolution, coupled with the increasing pace of emerging technologies, is opening up new opportunities for the country to be a driver of AI and data science in South Asia.
“We have an opportunity in the next few years to enable a vision where Sri Lanka is a model nation where AI policy has a positive impact on citizens and businesses. The goal is to apply AI to issues in different economic and social sectors that can make a real difference to the wellbeing of Sri Lankan citizens, ranging from education to healthcare, government to agriculture, skills development to policymaking. Once successful, Sri Lanka should strive to replicate these solutions as exports in other similarly placed developing countries.”
“That is why we are quite confident in saying that the many opportunities existing right now can be drawn and mapped perfectly across a blank canvass which is enabled by the fourth industrial revolution, big data and the growth in smart, connected devices. As a nation, we have the perfect opportunity to lay the solid foundation within the next three to five years to be an important thought leader in the South Asian context,” Gnanam has been quoted as saying.
Accordingly, the draft titled ‘AI Policy Framework Draft for Sri Lanka’ sets the stage for Sri Lanka as a nation to embrace AI and create the strategy for the country to seize the opportunity inherent in being an AI-driven nation while creating jobs and improving economic growth and prosperity for all citizens.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka is engaged in a rapid development programme of ICT and digital infrastructure in the country. The launching of the draft policy framework to promote AI is yet another instance indicating the growing opportunities in Sri Lanka’s ICT and digital infrastructure sectors. Foreign businesses/investors could explore business/investment opportunities in developing and promoting ICT and digital infrastructure solutions in Sri Lanka.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/28062019/Z_2 |