U.S. pledges continued support for Sri Lanka’s digital transformation at Tech Summit Asia 2025
Sri Lanka has finalized all necessary procedures to launch Starlink satellite internet services, according to Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weerarathna.
Speaking at a bilateral meeting organized by the Sri Lankan High Commission in Singapore — held on the sidelines of Tech Summit Asia 2025 — Minister Weerarathna stated that the service is ready to be launched immediately upon receipt of the expected information dashboard from Starlink, ensuring there will be no operational delays.
The announcement followed a high-level discussion between Minister Weerarathna and Ambassador Stephan Lang, the United States’ Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy at the U.S. Department of State.
Strategic Areas of Digital Collaboration
In addition to Starlink, the meeting covered several key pillars of digital cooperation, including:
-
Ongoing support from global tech giants such as Google and Meta for Sri Lanka’s digital transformation
-
Establishment of data centers and the development of AI-powered data infrastructure
-
Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across sectors
-
Advancement of the Cybersecurity Bill and strengthening of the Agency for Cyber Security
-
Revisions to the Online Safety Bill
-
Amendments to the Data Protection Act
Ambassador Lang emphasized that while these initiatives are challenging, they are also urgent and critical to the nation’s digital progress. He reiterated the United States’ commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts in implementing these transformative reforms.
“These steps are vital for laying a resilient foundation for Sri Lanka’s digital future,” Lang noted.
The launch of Starlink and the broader digital cooperation with the U.S. are seen as milestones in Sri Lanka’s journey to becoming a digitally inclusive and secure economy.
