📈 Sri Lanka Retains $15 Bn Digital Economy Target for 2030 Despite AI Risks

Government reaffirms its ambitious goal to build a $15 Bn digital economy—including $5 Bn in digital exports—by 2030, despite AI disruption threatening traditional ICT/BPM service exports. • Export & Talent Strategy: • Aims to pivot from cheap back-office services to products, IP, and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). • BOI to introduce a capital mobility facility enabling local startups receiving FDI to expand overseas. • Virtual Special Economic Zones and global mobility policies to retain talent and IP locally. • Digital & Data Infrastructure: • Plans to expand local data centre capacity from ~5 MW to 25 MW in the short term, inviting private sector FDI. • Targets 100% broadband coverage by 2028 supported by 5G and a viability gap financing scheme. • Government & Citizen Services: • Limited rollout of Digital ID expected late 2026 / early 2027; full population coverage targeted within 18 months post-grant. • Over 350 institutions connected to GovPay, targeting 2,000 within 6–12 months. • Digital Economy Sandbox to open publicly within a month; Digital Economy Bill and Authority setup underway.