Sri Lanka has initiated efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into its legislative drafting process, with plans to pilot the technology on a proposed bill governing virtual asset service providers.
Sri Lanka held a specialized workshop on August 21 to explore the application of artificial intelligence in drafting legislation, marking a significant step toward modernizing the country's lawmaking process. The event, organized jointly by the Ministry of Digital Economy and GovTech Sri Lanka, brought together senior government officials at the Legal Draftsman's Department under the theme "Better Tools for Better Lawmaking."
Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne chaired the session, which presented a roadmap for incorporating AI technology into Sri Lanka's legislative drafting procedures. Officials outlined a pilot initiative focusing on the proposed Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, positioning this legislation as the initial testing ground for the new approach.
During the workshop, participants observed practical demonstrations of AI-assisted tools designed to support multiple stages of the drafting process, from initial composition to document validation. The technology was showcased with capability to generate outputs across Sinhala, Tamil, and English—Sri Lanka's three main languages. Senior Presidential Adviser on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Legal Draftsman Dilrukshi Samaraweera, and other high-ranking officials participated in discussions that examined data readiness, implementation safeguards, and subsequent steps required to advance the pilot project.
