Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasised that innovation must serve the public interest, research must inform national priorities, and the opportunities created by emerging technologies must be shared more equitably.
She made these remarks while addressing the inauguration of the University of Colombo International Conference 2026, held at the UCFM Tower Main Auditorium of the Medical Faculty.
The two-day academic forum, organised under the theme of advancing an inclusive future through artificial intelligence, sustainability, and innovation, brought together scholars and policymakers to address key national issues.
Addressing the assembly, the Prime Minister stated that higher education institutions hold a critical obligation to drive national progress by fostering rigorous critical thinking, advancing research, and formulating practical solutions to societal challenges.
She reaffirmed that providing equal access to high-quality education remains an essential state responsibility, adding that economic and social development must deliver fair outcomes across every community.
Turning to technological advancement, she observed that artificial intelligence offers major prospects for improving public administration, elevating educational standards, and unlocking new economic growth.
However, she warned that these advantages come with distinct risks, including digital divide disparities, data privacy vulnerabilities, algorithmic bias, and misinformation.
To manage these threats, she called for nationwide efforts to boost digital literacy and insisted that human oversight, ethical accountability, and public welfare must govern every technological application.
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