IBM gives thumbs up for Sri Lanka’s digital push

Global technology giant IBM yesterday gave thumbs up for Sri Lanka’s efforts in digital transformation while implying the country has the right foundation to achieve its ambitions under the Digital Economy Strategy 2030.

IBM India and South Asia Managing Director Sandip Patel, who is on a brief visit to the island this week commended the country, its path charted towards reaching a digital economy.

“We see immense potential in Sri Lanka’s Digital Economy Strategy 2030, and we are proud to be a partner in this journey. IBM can play a significant role in helping Sri Lanka achieve its digital goals by bringing together world-class technology and deep industry expertise,” he said.

Patel, who met with a select group of editors in Colombo, also held discussions with Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya. While he held back from revealing specifics of the meeting, he reaffirmed IBM’s commitment to working with the Sri Lankan government in advancing its digital agenda.

“Whether it’s empowering the workforce, creating citizen services, enabling digital platforms, or fostering innovation, we are committed to working hand in hand with Sri Lanka and our business partners here.

“More importantly, that is how we unlock the full potential of a digital future and truly help realise Sri Lanka’s digital economy strategy for 2030,” he said.

Patel emphasised that IBM’s involvement goes beyond offering technology, pointing to the company’s long-standing partnerships and solutions designed to create an impact across industries and communities.

“That is our commitment to Sri Lanka. It always has been and will continue to be,” he said.

As governments worldwide look to improve public service delivery, IBM’s artificial intelligence-powered solutions are designed to reduce costs, optimise workloads, and build public trust. The company’s specialised IT services for the public sector focus on citizen service delivery, healthcare and social welfare programmes, critical infrastructure, national security, and public safety.

“Ultimately, where all of this comes to life is in driving automation and productivity. And it’s not just for enterprises, we can automate core processes in sectors like healthcare and public administration, reducing manual load and improving service delivery,” Patel said.

He also flagged cybersecurity as a critical pillar in IBM’s strategy, pointing out that the entity has made significant investments in cybersecurity capabilities to safeguard critical infrastructure, government data, and private sector information.

Furthermore, Patel also pointed to IBM’s leadership in quantum computing as another frontier in digital transformation.

“IBM is currently the leader in quantum technology. We have the most advanced quantum computers out there. In line with that, we’re also leading the development of quantum-safe cryptography protocols, including for the US government.

“We believe quantum cryptography will be the next frontier of cybersecurity, as bad actors continue to evolve with technology,” he noted.

According to Patel, the solutions ultimately, translate into better citizen services, more financial inclusion, and the modernisation of core infrastructure enabled through hybrid cloud and AI-powered solutions.