A Strategic Shift Toward National Control
The government of Sri Lanka is actively transitioning to a hybrid and sovereign cloud framework. Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne explained the rationale during the GROUNDED: Local Data Sovereignty Cloud Summit held in Colombo, which was jointly organized by NCINGA and AWS.
The framework prioritizes keeping highly sensitive financial and government data within local, legally bound boundaries. This addresses a fundamental requirement: data sovereignty rules that prevent citizen and government information from freely leaving Sri Lanka’s physical borders.
Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy, also attended the summit. The government’s commitment centers on building foundational digital public infrastructure, including a national digital ID and real-time payment systems designed to strengthen the economy and promote financial inclusion.
Digital Infrastructure Taking Shape
The ICTA has launched a public consultation process for a comprehensive Cloud Policy and Strategy. These draft documents outline how to enhance Sri Lanka’s digital landscape through secure and innovative cloud computing practices that serve national interests while fostering inclusive economic growth.
The summit brought together stakeholders from public and private sectors, financial institutions, and technology experts. Weeraratne emphasized the shift towards a hybrid and sovereign cloud framework to keep highly sensitive financial and government data within local, legally bound boundaries
.
Technical Solutions for Local Needs
AWS presented solutions tailored for localized, low-latency environments with heavy regulatory requirements. The focus is on data sovereignty measures that protect national interests while enabling digital innovation.
Domestic AI and Services on the Horizon
Weeraratne also discussed emerging opportunities for developing domestic artificial intelligence frameworks. Two key initiatives are being explored:
- Sovereign AI frameworks tailored to local needs
- The NCINGA AI Factory for secure, citizen-centric public services
These initiatives align with Sri Lanka’s broader strategy to bolster digital infrastructure. The emphasis remains on secure and innovative cloud practices that support national interests and inclusive growth across all sectors.
Public Feedback Shapes the Future
The ICTA‘s public consultation on its Cloud Policy and Strategy is currently open. This process will gather stakeholder feedback to refine the final policy and ensure it effectively serves the nation’s digital ambitions.
Sri Lanka’s continued focus on a national digital ID and real-time payment systems underscores its commitment to building a robust digital future anchored in data sovereignty and controlled, localized infrastructure.
Follow Hashlytics on Bluesky, LinkedIn, Telegram and X to Get Instant Updates
