Commencement Ceremony Held for China-Aided Digital Transformation Project of General Education in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Jan. 14: The commencement ceremony for the China-Aided Digital Transformation Project of General Education in Sri Lanka was held today. Ambassador Qi Zhenhong and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya jointly attended the event. Other high-ranking officials in attendance included Madhura Seneviratne, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education; Nalin Hewage, Deputy Minister of Vocational Education; Eranga Weeraratne, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy; and Tang Yandi, Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya described the project as a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s journey toward educational equity and digital transformation. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Chinese government and its people for their continuous support. The Prime Minister noted that the cooperation between the two nations in digital infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and human resource development aligns closely with the Sri Lankan government’s broader digital economy agenda. This partnership provides critical momentum for building a more resilient, inclusive, and knowledge-based economy. From the donation of school uniform fabrics to the launch of this digital transformation initiative, the collaboration between the two countries continues to deepen. By establishing modern facilities such as an education cloud data center, smart classrooms, and distance learning platforms, the project will drive the intelligent evolution of Sri Lanka's educational ecosystem and lay a solid foundation for a connected, high-quality education system.

Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne also thanked the Chinese government for its generous assistance. He emphasized that the project would continuously enhance the digital literacy and skills of both students and teachers, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s education remains at the forefront of global technological developments and enhancing the country's competitiveness in the global knowledge economy.

Ambassador Qi Zhenhong extended his warm congratulations on the project's commencement. He stated that digitalization is a key pillar of Sri Lanka’s educational reform and a vital component of its national strategy, expressing China’s pride in contributing to these efforts. Under this initiative, the Chinese government will provide 900 smart classrooms for 500 schools across the country. Ambassador Qi highlighted that China has built the world’s largest "National Smart Education Platform" and stands ready to share its high-quality educational resources and experience with Sri Lanka to achieve mutual development.

Witnessed by Prime Minister Amarasuriya and Ambassador Qi, Counsellor Tang Yandi and Nalaka Kaluwewa, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, signed the Supplementary Implementation Agreement for the China-Aided Digital Transformation Project of General Education in Sri Lanka.