Sri Lanka’s Export Earnings Exceed US$9 Billion in First Half of 2026, Says Prime Minister

Sri Lanka’s total export earnings exceeded US$9 billion during the first six months of 2026, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while participating in the 2026 session of the 26th Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit (SLEIS), held on October 13.

The two-day summit, held on October 12 and 13, brought together policymakers, business leaders, investors and other stakeholders to discuss Sri Lanka’s economic prospects and investment opportunities.

Addressing a session titled “Nation Building in the Digital Age,” the Prime Minister emphasised the Government’s commitment to transforming Sri Lanka from a country that merely uses technology into one that creates innovation.

She said the Government aims to expand the country’s digital economy to US$15 billion by 2030, increase digital exports to US$5 billion and develop a digital-sector workforce of 200,000 professionals.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of developing Digital Public Infrastructure to modernise government institutions and improve the efficiency of public service delivery. She said the Government was committed to allocating nearly Rs. 30 billion for key digital transformation programmes through the institutional framework established under the Ministry of Digital Economy.

She cited the GovPay digital payment platform as an example of how technology could simplify government transactions, improve transparency and reduce administrative burdens on citizens and businesses. The platform has facilitated payments exceeding Rs. 6 billion and connected more than 300 government institutions, she said.

According to the Prime Minister, digital technology has the potential to transform key sectors of the economy, including healthcare, agriculture, energy and transport.

Digital health systems and remote medical services could expand access to healthcare, while data-driven agricultural practices could improve productivity and water management. Smart electricity grids and digital energy management systems could also support the transition towards renewable energy.

Similarly, digital ticketing and digital traffic management systems could improve transport efficiency and reduce the daily difficulties faced by commuters.

Dr. Amarasuriya stressed that vocational and technical education must be recognised as pathways of equal value to other forms of education in terms of employment and career development.

She highlighted the need to strengthen collaboration between educational institutions and industry, expand practical training opportunities and introduce flexible educational and professional qualifications, including micro-credentials, to respond to changing labour market requirements.

Emphasising that technology alone cannot eliminate social inequalities, the Prime Minister called for a citizen-centred approach to digital policymaking. She said the success of digital transformation should not be measured by the number of digital tools introduced, but by whether they create more accessible, efficient and convenient opportunities for all citizens in public services, business activities and everyday life.

During a subsequent panel discussion, the Prime Minister said technology offered significant opportunities to transform education. However, she stressed that the process must be carefully managed to prevent existing inequalities from widening and to ensure that all students have fair access to these opportunities.

She also underscored the importance of investing in digital infrastructure, expanding access to technology-based education and introducing modern curricula aligned with changing global requirements.

Addressing the integration of artificial intelligence and other technologies into education, Dr. Amarasuriya said particular attention must be paid to their potential effects on students’ thinking, reasoning and cognitive development.

Commenting on efforts to reduce disparities in access to digital technology, she said a five-year plan had been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy to strengthen the use of digital technology within the education system. Increasing the number of schools equipped with technological infrastructure is among the plan’s objectives.

The Prime Minister further emphasised that transforming education and preparing a workforce equipped for the future could not be achieved by the Government alone. Cooperation among the Government, private sector and industry would be essential.

She called on the business community to support vocational education by providing industry training opportunities for young people, establishing partnerships with vocational training institutions and developing programmes that reflect actual labour market requirements.

The event was attended by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Krishantha Balendra, the Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy, government officials and industry representatives.