Prof. Lasith Gunawardena Contributes to Sri Lanka’s National AI Policy Framework for Higher Education

Prof. Lasith Gunawardena, Head of the Department, participated as one of the 12 Sri Lankan university academics selected to contribute to the development of Sri Lanka’s National AI Policy Framework for Higher Education, an initiative jointly supported by the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The initiative was officially soft-launched on 8 May 2026 at the University Grants Commission (UGC), Colombo, with the participation of the Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, and U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Jayne Howell.

The program aims to support the responsible, ethical, and future-ready adoption of artificial intelligence across Sri Lanka’s higher education sector. The initiative is led by Prof. Usree Bhattacharya of the University of Georgia, together with representatives from the U.S. Embassy, with advisory support from the UGC.

This national-level collaboration marks an important step towards building an inclusive and sustainable AI ecosystem for universities in Sri Lanka. The Department congratulates Prof. Lasith Gunawardena on his contribution to this significant initiative and his continued commitment to advancing innovation and academic excellence in higher education.

For more information:
U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka – AI in Higher Education Initiative