Another workshop in a series of special seminars for government executive officers on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to make the public service more effective and efficient was held at Temple Trees on Saturday (16th).
Organised by the Ministry of Digital Economy with the support of the Presidential Secretariat, the workshop was conducted under the theme ‘AI for Transforming Public Service’, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
Executive officers from ten ministries took part in the session, which aimed to raise awareness, prepare government officials for the state’s digitalisation agenda, and foster a positive attitude towards the use of AI in the public sector.
Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, stressed that the government is taking the necessary steps towards digital transformation and highlighted the need for the public service to be ready for this change.
He further noted that by adopting AI, the efficiency of public services could be improved, leading to better service delivery to the people.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Senior Advisor to the President on Digital Economy, emphasised the importance of digitalisation. Contributions were also made by officials from the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), including board members Harsha Purasinghe and Samisa Abeysinghe.
Participants included Secretary to the Minister of Labour, S.M. Piyatissa, along with executive officers from several ministries: Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation; Women and Child Affairs; Urban Development, Construction and Housing; Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment; Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs; Youth and Sports; Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs; Plantation and Community Infrastructure; and Labour.
