At least half a dozen international technology giants are currently in discussions with the Sri Lankan Government regarding several initiatives, including the establishment of data centres and cost-efficient power solutions, top officials revealed.
Amazon, Microsoft Azure, Oracle Cloud, Huawei, and Alibaba are reportedly engaged in discussions with the Ministry of Digital Economy and other relevant agencies about setting up these facilities, along with a range of other technology-driven services.
Speaking at a recent digital forum, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratna announced that the government is actively inviting leading global data centre providers to establish operations in Sri Lanka.
He further stated that the government welcomes both local and international partners to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) cloud platforms within the country.
“We are in discussions to explore how we can attract AI and data centre providers to Sri Lanka and establish AI cloud platforms for government use, as well as for the needs of the local private sector,” Weeraratna said.
According to him, constructing a secure and robust cloud infrastructure and ensuring the protection of national data through local storage and governance are key objectives of the government’s draft Cloud Policy and Strategy.
Sri Lanka’s long-term goal is to strengthen its cloud infrastructure by integrating local service providers with global hyperscalers, aiming to develop a next-generation cloud ecosystem. The primary advantages of adopting hyperscale public clouds, he noted, include cost efficiency, enhanced security, and increased innovation.
A telecommunications analyst highlighted that operating a Tier 1 data centre would require a minimum of 20 megawatts of power.
Meanwhile, Oracle Cloud is already involved in specific government projects, including the migration of the Board of Investment (BOI) systems to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. In February, the government extended an invitation to Oracle to establish a sovereign cloud region in Sri Lanka, which would host government applications and support the country’s ongoing digital transformation initiatives.
