“We must act now—or risk being left behind.” - President AKD

COLOMBO (News 1st): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called for an urgent national commitment to digital transformation, warning that Sri Lanka risks falling further behind in the global economic hierarchy if it fails to embrace technological and scientific advancements.

Speaking on the future of Sri Lanka’s development, the President emphasized that nations capable of rapidly absorbing innovation are the ones that progress. “Those that fail to keep pace are inevitably pushed to the margins,” he said.

He identified the core of Sri Lanka’s current crisis as its inability to adapt to the digital era, which began in the late 20th century. 

“We are presented with two paths—not just choices, but directions we must commit to,” he stated. “If we embrace digitalization and make it a practical reality, we can progress alongside developed nations. If not, we will be pushed further down.”

President Dissanayake announced that digitalization has been recognized as a central pillar of national development under his administration. He reflected on the once-proud public service of the 1970s, noting that pride has now become a trap, leaving the country with a weakened administrative system.

“To rebuild an efficient state mechanism, especially in delivering public services, we must transform our systems,” he said. He acknowledged widespread public dissatisfaction with government services and stressed the need for efficiency, transparency, and accessibility.

The President also highlighted the changing nature of market creation, driven by digital technologies and artificial intelligence.

“Human needs haven’t changed drastically, but the way we meet those needs has,” he explained. “New markets are being created through new methods, and today, those methods are digital.”

He pointed to successful nations and private enterprises that have strengthened their economies through innovation. “Digital transformation is not only essential for national progress—it is critically important for the business sector,” he concluded.