Sri Lanka plans to set up an artificial intelligence (AI) centre at Wijerama with Singapore’s support, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said at the Economic and Investment Summit on Monday.
The President said the government expects Cabinet approval for the centre next week. About 17,000 students enter the IT sector each year from state and private universities, he said.
He said the IT sector has too few suitable jobs for graduates, and that the main problem is now the level of skills rather than a shortage of workers. Many graduates have intermediate-level skills, while openings are growing in more advanced fields, he said.
For young Sri Lankans in the IT field, this could affect the training they receive and the jobs open to them. The President named AI, big data, quantum computing and blockchain as areas where education and training must improve.
He also said the government plans to widen overseas job options through business process outsourcing (BPO) companies and remote work, and that university degree programmes must change to produce more advanced technical skills.
The Cabinet is expected to consider the proposal next week.
