The Minister of Environment, Dr. Dammika Patabendi, participated in the 25th World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS), held from 25–27 February 2026 in New Delhi.
Organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the Summit - under the theme “Transformations: Vision, Voices, and Values for Sustainable Development and Climate Action” - brought together global leaders, policymakers and experts to advance collective climate solutions.
Addressing the Ministerial Session on “Multilateralism as a Force for Hope and Impact” on 26 February, the Minister underscored Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthened multilateral cooperation, climate resilience, and sustainable development. He highlighted Sri Lanka’s active engagement in regional and global climate processes and reaffirmed the country’s resolve to advance inclusive and practical climate action.
Participating in the India AI Impact Summit 2026held in New Delhi from 17 – 20 February at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Anura Kumara Disanayaka reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to responsible, inclusive and human-centred Artificial Intelligence, while further strengthening bilateral partnerships. The Summit, convened from 16–20 February, marked the first global gathering of its kind hosted in the Global South. It brought together Heads of State and Government, senior United Nations officials, leaders of international organisations and prominent figures from the global technology sector to deliberate on shaping the future of AI governance under the guiding pillars of People, Planet and Progress.
Addressing the Leaders’ Plenary Session on 19 February, President Disanayaka underscored that Artificial Intelligence must serve humanity – strengthening cultural values, safeguarding rights and ensuring equitable access to opportunity. Highlighting AI infrastructure as the next frontier of economic and cultural cooperation, the President drew attention to the evolving global discourse on ambitions, rights and safeguards related to AI.
Emphasising the often-overlooked cultural dimension of AI, the President stressed that emerging AI systems must preserve linguistic diversity and reflect the shared heritage of nations. He observed that technological advancement should not erode cultural identities but instead empower communities.
During the India AI Impact Summit 2026, H.E. Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, President of Sri Lanka, held a meeting with the Hon. Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, on 20 February 2026.
The discussion primarily focused on further enhancing the India-Sri Lanka partnership across multiple sectors including trade, economy, energy, connectivity, and culture.The President conveyed appreciation to the Prime Minister for the invitation to attend the AI Impact Summit, and the humanitarian support extended by India during Cyclone Ditwah.
His Excellency the Prime Minister of India, all the esteemed Heads of State and Government, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honour for me to join you in New Delhi at this unique moment when Artificial Intelligence is already transforming economies, governance systems and societies. AI technology is a transformative force that creates a massive impact on national growth trajectories, just as industrialization did in past centuries.
However, the growing gap between countries with strong AI capabilities and those without them creates a serious risk of many countries being left out of the digital economy. Countries that fall behind may be further impacted by global growth and new economic opportunities, putting at risk the inclusive, equitable and Sustainable Development Goals we aspire to.
Today, like many emerging economies, Sri Lanka has yet to develop the infrastructure needed to fully embrace AI. Therefore, we are at a critical moment which requires us to act with purpose and vision in a confident and unwavering manner.
Sri Lanka has a young, technologically-skilled human resource base. We also have a strong legal system, an economic culture that is linked to trade and international partnerships. We are modernizing our legal frameworks on personal data protection and cybersecurity, continuing to invest in digital public infrastructure, encouraging innovation, and strengthening institutional systems that can safeguard public trust and security.
The world is currently debating the intentions, rights and safety of AI technology. But here I would like to point out a crucial aspect that has been overlooked so far. That is, ‘cultural adaptation’. These technologies should help further promote the cultural values and capabilities of humanity. If world-class AI technology is limited to just a few languages and ideologies, there is a risk of losing our unique cultural diversity. For countries like Sri Lanka and India, their languages and cultures are the basis of respect and trust.
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