The UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy, has launched UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) on Artificial Intelligence in Sri Lanka. The first meeting of the National Steering Committee was held in Colombo on 20 May 2026, followed by a second meeting on 2 September 2026.
The Readiness Assessment Methodology, or RAM, is one of UNESCO’s key tools for supporting Member States in implementing the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. It provides a structured assessment of a country’s readiness to develop and use AI in a responsible, ethical and inclusive manner. Sri Lanka is among the first few countries to carry out the exercise using RAM 2.0, an updated version of the original methodology.
The Steering Committee is chaired by Mr. Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy, and Ms. Eunsong Kim, Chief of Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia. Its members include several other government agencies, the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, private sector leaders, experts from academia and civil society, and Citra Lab, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Committee’s primary role is to guide the assessment process and ensure that it comprehensively captures the nuances, dynamics and complexities of Sri Lanka’s AI ecosystem across all the dimensions and policy areas covered by RAM. At the meetings, participants noted that AI and its ethical use are a priority for the Government of Sri Lanka. Emphasis was placed on ensuring that policymaking in this area is inclusive, drawing on a broad range of voices from across society. In line with this, several multi-stakeholder consultations are being planned across the country- including Colombo, Jaffna, Kandy, Batticaloa, and Galle over the coming months.
LIRNEasia, a leading economic and digital policy think tank based in Colombo, has been onboarded as the national implementation partner for the RAM exercise.
The RAM exercise will result in a report that complements Sri Lanka’s digital transformation agenda and the proposed national AI strategy. Drawing on an assessment of the country’s strengths, gaps and priorities, it will offer practical recommendations for building a human-centred AI ecosystem that reflects international standards and the principles of ethical innovation.
As of August 2026, UNESCO has deployed the RAM in more than 75 Member States across the world, with the process complete in 60 countries, including India, Bangladesh, and Maldives in South Asia.
