Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya Presents Sri Lanka’s Sovereign AI Vision at UN Global Dialogue

Geneva, Switzerland – Sri Lanka has called for the development of inclusive and locally relevant Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the inaugural United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance, emphasizing that AI must understand the people and communities it is designed to serve.

Representing Sri Lanka, Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy, highlighted the importance of developing AI systems that support Sinhala, Tamil, and other local dialects, while also understanding Sri Lanka’s unique cultural, legal, and agricultural contexts.

Speaking at the dialogue, Dr. Wijayasuriya introduced the concept of “Sovereign AI”—a vision that would enable Sri Lanka to develop and deploy AI technologies on its own terms. He said the country plans to build national AI infrastructure, including language models, speech recognition, and translation systems, to support government services, businesses, and society.

The discussions followed the release of the world’s first independent UN Scientific Report on AI, which highlights both the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. The report notes that AI can improve healthcare, education, and public services when adapted to local languages and contexts, while stressing the importance of transparency, accountability, and human oversight.

Sri Lanka also called for greater international cooperation to help developing countries bridge the “Sovereign AI Gap”, ensuring that the benefits of AI are shared more equitably across nations.

The Global Dialogue on AI Governance is the first UN-led platform dedicated to international cooperation on AI governance, bringing together governments, experts, and stakeholders to shape the future of responsible artificial intelligence.