📈 Sri Lanka’s Digital Divide Deepens Despite Rising Literacy

The Department of Census and Statistics (2025 H1) reports a significant gap between basic mobile skills and the computer literacy required for formal employment, posing a hurdle for the national ICT/BPM and digital economy goals. • Overall Literacy & Access: • Digital literacy (mobile-based) reached 70.8%, but computer literacy lags at 38.4%. • Household computer ownership stagnates at 21.4%, remaining in the 20-21% range since 2023. • Internet usage is 60.4%, yet only 21.3% of the population uses e-mail, signaling a lack of advanced digital engagement. • Regional & Sector Disparities: • Urban computer literacy is 52.1%, significantly higher than Rural (36.6%) and Estate (18.6%) sectors. • Computer ownership in the Estate sector is just 5.8%. • The Western Province leads computer literacy at 49.8%, while the North Central Province is lowest at 23.5%. • Demographic & Occupational Trends: • Age: Computer literacy is highest among 15-19 year olds (75.6%) but drops sharply in older groups. • Education: Those with GCE A/L or higher show 78.6% literacy. • Employment: Literacy exceeds 90% in professional and clerical roles but falls to 34.2% in elementary occupations. The data suggests that while the digital economy is expanding, the lack of desktop/laptop access and advanced skills could reinforce existing socio-economic divides.