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Sri Lanka targets $ 5 billion in digital exports by 2030

Sri Lanka is positioning its digital economy as a new engine of foreign-exchange earnings, with the Government targeting $ 5 billion in digital export revenue by 2030, as it seeks to become a regional hub for data centres and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eng. Eranga Weeraratne said on Thursday (1), according to a social media post.

Speaking at the inauguration of “Digital Summit Asia Sri Lanka 2026”, held in Colombo under the theme “The Epicentre”, Weeraratne said the Government of Sri Lanka is strategically focusing on transforming the country into a regional data center and AI innovation hub while driving toward an ambitious target of $ 5 billion in digital export revenue by 2030, according to the social media post.

According to the digital economy blueprint published by the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), the push comes as Sri Lanka seeks to expand foreign-exchange earnings by developing higher-value digital and technology-based services, where Sri Lanka currently earns about $ 1.6 billion in foreign exchange from the digital industry.

Weeraratne said Sri Lanka’s strategic geographic location and access to international submarine cable networks provided an opportunity to develop the country as a premier regional or global data hub. He also highlighted the transformative power of AI across public services and diverse industries, reiterating the national priority to establish the country as a center for AI-driven innovation.

Outlining the Government's digital transformation agenda, Weeraratne pointed out five key focus areas including the digitalisation of public services, the expansion of the digital industry, the transition to a cashless economy, the enhancement of national digital skills, and the transformation of traditional industries through digital innovation.

He also noted that it is important to shift consumer behavior towards digital and QR payments as Sri Lanka moves towards a cashless economy, while digital marketing professionals play a pivotal role in educating both consumers and enterprises on the security, efficiency, and advantages of digital financial systems over cash-based transactions.

Weeraratne further added that a robust digital marketing framework and a strong global digital presence will enable Sri Lankan products and services to expand into international markets, strengthening the country’s digital export potential.