Sri Lanka has launched UNESCO's Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) to evaluate the country's preparedness for responsible AI adoption and support the development of its proposed national AI strategy.
The initiative, undertaken by UNESCO's Regional Office for South Asia in collaboration with Sri Lanka's Ministry of Digital Economy, will examine the country's existing AI ecosystem, identify policy gaps and provide recommendations for developing an ethical and inclusive approach to artificial intelligence.
Sri Lanka is among the first countries to implement RAM 2.0, an updated version of UNESCO's assessment framework designed to help governments evaluate their readiness to develop and deploy AI technologies responsibly.
According to UNESCO, the methodology supports the implementation of its Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, providing countries with a structured approach to assessing their institutional and policy preparedness.
The assessment will be guided by a National Steering Committee, which held its first meeting in Colombo on May 20, 2026, followed by a second meeting on September 2.
The committee is co-chaired by Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary of Sri Lanka's Ministry of Digital Economy, and Eunsong Kim, Chief of Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO's Regional Office for South Asia.
Its membership includes representatives from government agencies, the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, private sector organisations, academic institutions and civil society. Citra Lab, an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme, is also participating.
The committee will oversee the assessment process and ensure that it reflects the characteristics, challenges and priorities of Sri Lanka's AI ecosystem.
During the meetings, participants identified artificial intelligence and its ethical use as priorities for the Sri Lankan government. Discussions also emphasised the need for inclusive policymaking involving stakeholders from different sections of society.
As part of the exercise, consultations are being planned across several locations, including Colombo, Jaffna, Kandy, Batticaloa and Galle. These discussions will gather perspectives from stakeholders to inform the country's assessment and subsequent policy recommendations.
Colombo-based economic and digital policy think tank LIRNEasia has been appointed as the national implementation partner for the initiative.
The assessment will produce a report examining Sri Lanka's strengths, existing gaps and policy priorities in AI development and adoption.
Its findings are expected to complement the country's broader digital transformation agenda and proposed national AI strategy, with recommendations aimed at establishing a human-centred AI ecosystem aligned with international ethical standards.
The initiative forms part of UNESCO's wider efforts to support governments in developing national AI governance frameworks.
As of August 2026, UNESCO had deployed its AI Readiness Assessment Methodology in more than 75 member states, with assessments completed in 60 countries, including India, Bangladesh and the Maldives.
UNESCO has not announced a completion date for Sri Lanka's assessment or the publication of its final report.
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