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Natasha
Natasha
May 10 2026
75- Research hub planned with foreign partners, private sector
- Talks in final stages, says Deputy Minister
- Local 6G rollout to take time as 5G ecosystem matures
Sri Lanka is planning to establish a dedicated research centre for 6G and next-generation wireless technologies by the third quarter of 2026, in collaboration with foreign partners and the private sector.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne revealed that Sri Lanka was currently engaged in discussions to establish a research centre focused on 6G and other next-generation wireless technologies.
He further explained that the initiative would be undertaken jointly with several international stakeholders as well as private sector participants.
Weeraratne further revealed that discussions were in the final stages and that they expected to establish this research centre within the third quarter of 2026.
He noted that while plans for the research centre were progressing steadily, the rollout of 6G technology locally would take time.
The Deputy Minister pointed out that 5G technology in Sri Lanka still required further maturation, adding that telecommunications operators would need time to recover their existing investments before transitioning to the next generation.
Meanwhile, Dr. (Eng) Samiru Gayan, in his article titled ‘The Road to 6G: Powering the Next Leap in Digital Connectivity’ published in the official e-newsletter of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, highlighted that global efforts towards 6G were already underway.
He noted that unlike previous generations, 6G was not solely focused on faster internet speeds. Instead, it aims to create a smart, immersive, and sustainable network by integrating communication, computing, and sensing into a unified platform.
He emphasised that 6G was being designed to meet the demands of a highly interconnected digital society, marking a significant evolution in global communication systems.
Source: The morning
