The Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL), the nation’s apex professional body for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals, commemorated its Golden Jubilee with a prestigious celebration held on 7 July 2026 at the BMICH, marking fifty years of excellence, innovation, professional leadership, and national service in advancing Sri Lanka’s digital journey.
The landmark celebration brought together senior government leaders, technology industry executives, policymakers, academics, international partners, past presidents, fellows, members, students, and distinguished guests to honour CSSL’s remarkable journey since its establishment in 1976. More than a celebration of its rich history, the Golden Jubilee reaffirmed CSSL’s commitment to shaping Sri Lanka’s digital future by fostering innovation, developing digital talent, and supporting the nation’s vision of becoming a globally competitive digital economy.
For five decades, CSSL has remained at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s ICT evolution, championing professional excellence, ethical standards, education, research, innovation, and policy advocacy. Throughout its history, the Society has nurtured generations of ICT professionals while serving as a trusted advisor to government, industry, and academia on matters of national importance.
Today, as digital technologies rapidly reshape every aspect of society, CSSL continues to lead the national conversation on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software engineering, digital governance, digital public infrastructure, data, and emerging technologies. Its flagship initiatives including National IT Conference (NITC), the National CIO Forum, the CIO List, and numerous professional development programs—have significantly strengthened Sri Lanka’s digital ecosystem while recognising excellence and inspiring innovation.
Welcoming the distinguished gathering, CSSL President Heshan Karunaratne reflected on the Society’s remarkable achievements and its vision for the future.
“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka, we honour the vision, dedication, and achievements of the pioneers who established CSSL in 1976. Over the past five decades, CSSL has played a pivotal role in advancing the ICT profession, promoting innovation, and developing digital talent in Sri Lanka. Our Golden Jubilee is not only a celebration of our rich heritage but also a commitment to shaping the future of Sri Lanka’s digital economy. We will continue to work closely with government, industry, academia, and our members to build a digitally empowered nation and position Sri Lanka as a regional leader in technology and innovation.”
He further noted that while technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, people must remain at the centre of digital transformation. CSSL’s future focus, he said, is to ensure that innovation delivers meaningful benefits to every citizen while upholding professionalism, ethics, and trust.
Addressing the gathering as Chief Guest, Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne congratulated CSSL on reaching its historic Golden Jubilee milestone.
“The Government’s vision of building a modern digital economy can only be achieved through strong partnerships with professional institutions such as the Computer Society of Sri Lanka. For fifty years, CSSL has made a remarkable contribution to developing ICT professionals, supporting innovation, and strengthening the country’s digital capabilities. We congratulate CSSL on this significant milestone and look forward to working together to accelerate Sri Lanka’s digital transformation, create high-value employment, attract digital investments, and position Sri Lanka as a competitive digital nation.”
The Deputy Minister highlighted the important role that professional organisations play in developing future-ready talent, strengthening cybersecurity, supporting innovation, and building confidence in Sri Lanka’s digital economy.
Digital Economy Ministry Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala praised CSSL’s contribution to the nation’s digital progress and emphasised the importance of collaboration in achieving Sri Lanka’s digital ambitions.
“Digital transformation is ultimately about people, not technology alone. It is about creating opportunities, improving public services, empowering businesses, and enhancing the quality of life of every citizen. CSSL has been an invaluable partner over the past fifty years in developing digital talent, promoting professional excellence, supporting innovation, and contributing to national policy. As we build Sri Lanka’s digital future, partnerships between government and professional institutions like CSSL will be essential to creating an inclusive, secure, and globally competitive digital economy.”
A key highlight of the celebration was CSSL’s renewed commitment to driving human-centric digital adoption and advancing the national vision of Society 5.0. While digital technologies continue to transform industries and economies, CSSL believes that true progress is achieved only when technology improves people’s lives. Society 5.0 promotes a human-centred approach where artificial intelligence, data, robotics, and digital innovation are harnessed to solve social challenges, enhance public services, create new economic opportunities, and improve the wellbeing of every citizen.
A significant highlight of the Golden Jubilee celebrations was the CSSL Colloquium 2026, which was held in parallel at the BMICH, providing a platform to promote research, innovation, and product-based solutions. The Colloquium reflected CSSL’s commitment to connecting research, industry, and entrepreneurship to create technology-driven solutions with national impact.
As part of this innovation ecosystem, CSSL’s collaborative partners Neo Ventures with NIBM and Connect to Care with the Ministry of Agriculture showcased startup initiatives and the GoviNext program, demonstrating the potential of digital technology to transform sectors, empower communities, and create new opportunities.
CSSL has positioned human-centric digital adoption as a strategic pillar for Sri Lanka’s digital future, advocating policies and initiatives that empower citizens, educators, students, professionals, entrepreneurs, businesses, and the public sector to embrace technology confidently and responsibly. The Society believes that digital transformation must be inclusive, ethical, secure, and sustainable, ensuring that no community is left behind as the nation moves towards a digital economy.
Throughout the evening, special recognition was accorded to CSSL’s founders, past presidents, fellows, volunteers, and distinguished members whose vision and dedication have transformed the Society into one of Sri Lanka’s most respected professional institutions. Their collective efforts have shaped generations of ICT professionals while contributing significantly to national development.
The celebration also showcased CSSL’s many achievements over the past fifty years, highlighting its contribution to professional certification, education, research, industry engagement, student development, policy advocacy, and international collaboration. These initiatives have strengthened Sri Lanka’s ICT ecosystem while inspiring innovation and excellence across both the public and private sectors.
Looking ahead, CSSL reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Government’s digital economy agenda by strengthening digital skills, encouraging research and innovation, promoting ethical artificial intelligence, enhancing cybersecurity capabilities, supporting digital entrepreneurship, and fostering closer collaboration between government, industry, academia, and international partners.
As CSSL embarks on its next fifty years, it does so with a clear vision to lead Sri Lanka towards a human-centred digital society where technology empowers people, strengthens communities, drives sustainable economic growth, and improves the quality of life for every citizen. Guided by the principles of Society 5.0 and supported by a strong ecosystem of professionals and partners, CSSL remains committed to building a digitally inclusive, innovative, and globally competitive Sri Lanka.
The Golden Jubilee was therefore more than a celebration of the past. It was a celebration of purpose, partnership, and possibility—a tribute to fifty years of professional excellence and a bold commitment to shaping the next era of Sri Lanka’s digital transformation.