Today (October 3, 2025), the announcement (Notice of Assignment – NoA) about the final assignment of 5G required for the 2025 Frequency Auction was published. Honorable Deputy Minister of Digital Finance Eranga Weerarathana; Acting Secretary of Digital Finance Ministry, Chairman of Electric Forms Regulation Commission, Varuna Dhanapala; Director General Bandula Herath of Electric Forms Regulation Commission; Chairman of 5G Auction Committee, Director General of Finance Ministry, Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardhana, The Director of the Electricity Regulation Commission Saint Gunanandana participated.

Respected Deputy Minister of Digital Economy commented here; that the final assignment will lay a powerful foundation for expanding the new generation phone and information communication services, especially 5G technology, Sri Lanka's economy, innovation and industrial growth. He also showed that this is a key pathway for Sri Lanka's economy, innovation and industrial growth.

Also through fast internet facilities, low delay communication services and new technical infrastructure, key industries such as medical, education, agriculture and garment can give new life, for example, increasing crops and reducing resource waste using smart sensors in agriculture, in the garment industry He also said that it can be useful to increase quality and production capacity through automation systems.

Notice of Assignment (NoA) for the 2025 5G spectrum auction.

A special media briefing was held today (October 3, 2025) at the Information and Communication Technology Agency to announce the Final Assignment Notice (NoA) related to the 2025 5G Frequency Auction. The event was graced by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eng. Eranga Weeraratne, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy & Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRCSL) Mr. Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Director General of Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Bandula Herath, Chairman of the 5G Auction Committee and Director General of Ministry of Finance, Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardena, and Director of TRCSL Mr. Shantha Gunanandana.

During the briefing, it was highlighted that the introduction of 5G technology will lay a strong foundation for the expansion of Sri Lanka’s telecommunications landscape. 5G will act as a key driver of economic growth, innovation, and industrial development, enabling transformative progress across multiple sectors. Faster internet speeds, ultra-low latency, and cutting-edge digital infrastructure are expected to unlock new opportunities in education, agriculture, environmental management, and manufacturing. For example, in agriculture, the use of smart technologies will help increase yields and minimize resource waste, while automated systems in manufacturing will boost productivity and efficiency.

a vibrant showcase of innovation, creativity, and the next generation of tech talent driving Sri Lanka’s digital transformation.

The event brought together global and local sponsors, pioneering AI startups, and visionary speakers who showcased cutting-edge technologies and shared valuable insights on the future of AI -inspiring fresh ideas and possibilities for the nation’s digital journey.

The conference concluded with a special awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding innovations and contributions that are driving Sri Lanka’s AI ecosystem forward.

දැනුමින්, බුද්ධියෙන් පිරිපුන් ළමා පරපුරක් වෙනුවෙන් තාක්ෂණයේ නව මාවත් විවර කෙරෙන,

සුබ ලෝක ළමා දිනයක්!

Be part of the future!

Come and explore the world of AI at Sri Lanka’s first-ever National AI Exhibition & Conference 2025!

Google has agreed to provide the features of its AI platform, Gemini and other related benefits for free to students from mid-October, and the move is the culmination of months of efforts between the Digital Finance Ministry and Google Company, modern digital Honorable Deputy Minister of Digital Finance Eranga Weeraratne informed that this will be initiated with the purpose of providing tools and educational resources.

The National AI Exhibition and Conference 2025 at Monak Imperial on 29 September 2025 was organized by the Ministry of Digital Finance and SLT-MOBITEL together, this two-day conference and exhibition marks a huge step for this country to build a robust AI ecosystem.

This is positioned as a conference with national and regional importance, will accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence through key aspects of the economy and thereby building Sri Lanka as a regional AI center.

Attending the event as the chief guest, Hon. Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, showed the government's plan for advancing AI innovations and positioning Sri Lanka as a hub for digital transformation.

Also attending the event, the Hon. Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Mr. Eranga Weerarathne delivered a keynote lecture where he showed the government's vision for a digitally empowered nation and emphasized the role of AI in leading economic growth and innovation.

The exhibition is scheduled to be held tomorrow, in collaboration with government leadership and industry and global partners. Accordingly, the conference and exhibition will mark a crucial moment in the journey to Sri Lanka to make it a future-ready AI center.

Honorable, Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil, Digital Finance Ministry Secretary (Wa.) for this event. B) Varuna Sri Dhanapala, Sri Lanka Telecom, Mobitel Chairman, Dr. Mothilal De Silva and ministry officers, home and foreign scholars were together.

National AI Exhibition and Conference 2025 Kicks Off — Marking a New Chapter in Sri Lanka’s Digital Journey The inaugural National AI Exhibition and Conference 2025 officially commenced on 29 September 2025 at the Monarch Imperial, marking a major milestone in Sri Lanka’s path toward building a vibrant and future-ready AI ecosystem. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Digital Economy and SLT-MOBITEL, this landmark two-day event is positioned as a platform of national and regional significance. It aims to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence across key economic sectors, paving the way for Sri Lanka to emerge as a regional AI hub.

Gracing the opening ceremony as Chief Guest, Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training, outlined the government’s vision to advance AI innovation and lead the country’s digital transformation journey.

Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Eng. Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, shared the government’s strategy for building a digitally empowered nation, emphasizing the critical role of AI in driving economic growth, innovation, and national competitiveness.

The exhibition will continue tomorrow, bringing together government leadership, industry stakeholders, and global partners. This inaugural conference and exhibition marks a defining moment in Sri Lanka’s journey to becoming a future-ready AI hub, showcasing the nation’s commitment to embracing artificial intelligence as a national priority.

The event was graced by Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development; Mr. Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary (Acting) to the Ministry of Digital Economy; Dr. Motilal de Silva, Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom and Mobitel; along with senior ministry officials, and a distinguished gathering of local and international Guests.

In connection with the 2025 Sri Lanka Financial Technology Summit (FinTech Summit) held at BMICH on 24th and 25th September, a special discussion was held between Deputy Minister of Digital Finance Hon. Eranga Weeraratne and CEO of PhonePe, India. The discussion highlighted the importance of regional collaboration and knowledge sharing in Sri Lanka's digital transformation journey.

India's successful transition to a noteless economy, the dialogue focused on key sectors including strategies to empower citizens with low digital literacy to embrace digital payments, and identify challenges with practical solutions for widely expansion. They also emphasized the crucial role of digital payments in expanding smooth financial streams across the economy.

The discussion will mark an important milestone for learning from the most successful uses globally and shaping the path in Sri Lanka towards an all-inclusive and efficient digital economy. Mr. Sumudu Ratnayake, Advisor of Digital Finance Ministry and Mr. Jeffrey Sulfur, ICTA Director were also present in the event.

In parallel with the Sri Lanka FinTech Summit 2025, held on the 23rd and 24th of September at BMICH, a special discussion took place between Hon. Eng. Eranga Weeratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, and Mr. Ritesh Pai, CEO of PhonePe, India. This high-level exchange underscored the importance of regional collaboration and knowledge sharing in advancing Sri Lanka’s digital transformation journey.

The dialogue focused on key areas, including India’s successful transition towards a cashless economy, strategies to empower citizens with low digital literacy to embrace digital payments, and identifying challenges with practical solutions to drive wider adoption. They also emphasized the critical role digital payments play in ensuring smooth financial flows across the economy.

This discussion marks another significant milestone in learning from global best practices and applying those insights to shape Sri Lanka’s path towards a more inclusive and efficient digital economy. Also present at the occasion were Mr. Sumudu Rathnayaka, Advisor to the Ministry of Digital Economy, and Mr. Jiffry Zulfer, Director of ICTA.

The international conference organized by the Global Dialogue Forum (GDF) and the Roman Society of India on “Strengthening Green Energy, Food Security and Cyber Security” was successfully held last September 20 at Galle Muwadora Hotel Colombo.

Sri Lanka became a hub for global policy dialogues at the meeting, with the presence of Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and ASEAN representatives, emphasizing the transformative power of AI in the fields of green energy, agriculture, financial and cyber security.

A number of global and local policymakers, innovators and experts attended this conference where, shared their vision and ideas on finding solutions to challenges faced by AI around the world. Attending the event, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Hon. Eranga Weerarathne explained her vision for a sustainable and greener digital future. Also, presented by retired Lutenant General Arun Sahni, Secretary General of Roman Society of India regarding strategic vision. Opening lecture Indonesia Air First Marshal Dr. Ir. Many local and global experts including Moses Manoharan (Chairman, GDF), Asela Medicalankara (Chief of Cyber Security and AI Policy) and Mayura Malagala (Deloit Sri Lanka) attended this.

The Global Dialogue Forum (GDF), in collaboration with the Club of Rome – India, successfully hosted its international conclave on AI in Powering Green Energy, Food Security & Cybersecurity on 20th September at the Galle Face Hotel.

This full-day event brought together global policymakers, academics, innovators, and industry leaders to explore how artificial intelligence can help address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. With participants representing Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, and across ASEAN, the conclave firmly positioned Colombo as a hub for global policy dialogue. Discussions underscored AI’s transformative potential in green energy, agriculture, finance, and cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to build inclusive, secure, and sustainable societies.

Hon. Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne, graced the occasion and shared his vision for building a resilient and green digital future powered by AI. Strategic insights were provided by Lt. Gen. Arun Sahni (Retd), Secretary General of the Club of Rome – India, while the inaugural address was delivered by Air First Marshal Dr. Ir. Arwin Sumari of Indonesia. Local and international experts, including Moses Manoharan (Chairman, GDF), Asela Waidyalankara (Cybersecurity & AI Policy Leader), and Mayura Malagala (Deloitte Sri Lanka), contributed valuable perspectives on regulation, ethics, and responsible AI adoption.

Opening of National Cyber Security Operations Center (NCSOC) and introduction of National Cyber Security Strategy (2025-2029) under the leadership of the President.