The Sri Lankan government recently launched a national Education Digitalisation Programme funded through a Chinese grant, aiming to reduce digital inequality in schools while ensuring child safety in technology-based learning.
Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr Harini Amarasuriya said the development of digital infrastructure is a key priority of the government’s broader education reforms.
“Alongside education reforms, we are undertaking the responsibility of developing a well-regulated digital education system that ensures the protection and safety of children,” PM said at the launch event held at the Ministry of Education premises in Isurupaya.
She emphasised that schools most affected by digital inequality will be identified and brought under the program to ensure equal access to education for all students, and also stressed that the integration of technology into education must be guided by frameworks that protect children and support their psychological well-being.
The agreement to implement the program was signed by Nalaka Kaluwewa, secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, and Qi Zhenhong, China’s ambassador to Sri Lanka.
Officials said the initiative goes beyond the installation of hardware in classrooms and is designed to promote safe and responsible use of technology among students. Planned components include the establishment of a cloud-based data centre for digital education infrastructure, the introduction of distance-learning systems and the setup of about 900 smart classrooms equipped with artificial intelligence- enabled features.
The launch event was attended by Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Madhura Seneviratne, Deputy Minister of the Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, representatives of the Chinese Embassy, officials from partner companies and senior officials from the Ministries of Education and Digital Economy.
The government says the program is expected to play a key role in modernising Sri Lanka’s education system and expanding access to digital learning nationwide.