Mr. Vice President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
It is an honour to address this 114th Session of the International Labour Conference on behalf of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
I express my deepest appreciation to the Director-General for his insightful report, A Moment of Choice: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Decent Work.
We gather here, at a defining moment in human history. The global discourse surrounding Artificial Intelligence is frequently trapped in a relentless struggle to strike a "balance" between machine intervention and human labor, or a defensive battle to protect human workers from technological displacement.
Sri Lanka proposes, a shift in this paradigm to start viewing technology and AI as a catalyst to re-architect our production relations to enhance productivity and value generation for shared prosperity.
The objectives of labor policies should remain focused on accessibility to quality jobs, a fair share of value distribution, and assurance of a better life.
Recent research by Sri Lanka’s Institute of Policy Studies, utilizing ILO methodologies, reveals that approximately 22.8% of our employed population are exposed to generative AI. Crucially, this exposure sits heavily upon professional "office jobs" traditionally deemed safe paths for upward mobility.
Generally, less desirable occupations in agriculture, craftsmanship, and elementary and informal sectors, remain less exposed.
We can transform the very landscape of labor by integrating AI into production relations, by taking this as an opportunity.
Hence, we are positioning AI, as a "multiplier" to make professional businesses more productive, a "catalyst" to transition workers into high-value roles, and a "transformative" force to make traditional agriculture and informal sector highly productive, and attractive. We are leveraging AI to unlock the potential of human capability.
Sri Lanka’s strategy is therefore ,defined by, adoption, adaptation, and acceleration.
As an emerging economy, Sri Lanka is building an AI-first mindset, directly into our institutions from the outset. Under the leadership of His Excellency the President, Anura Dissanayake, digital transformation is a national priority.
We are executing a clear roadmap, to expand our digital economy, with more export earnings, and strong digital workforce engaged in while we accelerate, into the technological and AI driven future, Sri Lanka remains committed, to social justice, labor rights, and the dignity of work. I am proud to announce that in May 2026, Sri Lanka ratified ILO Convention C190 on violence and harassment in the world of work, with legal frameworks currently being finalized.
We are also in advanced discussions, to ratify Convention No. 188 for the fishing sector.
Furthermore, an expert committee is conducting, consultations to implement comprehensive labor reforms that protect workers, while promoting an inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
We have proven our resilience. Having recently overcome, the devastating economic impacts of the Ditwa cyclone and a severe energy crisis, Sri Lanka continues to manage its economy, transparently and steadfastly in the best interest of our people.
Let us cooperate, to close the digital and AI divide, within and between nations. Sri Lanka welcomes global collaborations and partnerships to ensure that AI-integrated production relations, assure, a fair share of value and living wages for all. Let us choose to harness AI, not to replace humanity, but to elevate it.
Thank you, and may social justice prevail.