In brief
According to the Department of Census and Statistics, only 38.1% of people aged 5‑69 in Sri Lanka are computer literate, a slight drop from the previous year. Digital literacy remains higher at 72.5% and internet use has risen to 63.9%. Smartphones dominate access, accounting for 80.9% of devices used to reach the web and email.
In Colombo, officials announced that nearly 62 percent of Sri Lankans between the ages of five and 69 lack the ability to use a computer independently, according to the latest figures released by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS). The bulletin, covering the first half of 2026, lists the country’s computer literacy rate at 38.1 percent, down marginally from 38.4 percent in the same period of 2025.
The DCS notes that the same age group shows a higher level of digital literacy – the use of smartphones and tablets without assistance – at 72.5 percent. The data highlight a sustained gap between the ability to navigate simple mobile devices and more complex computer‑based tasks, reflecting differing technological needs in daily life and work.
While computer skills lag, internet penetration has grown. Internet usage rose to 63.9 percent in the first half of 2026, up from 60.4 percent a year earlier. However, email use has only reached 21.9 percent, a modest increase that suggests many internet users rely on other platforms such as messaging apps or social media. The information shows a shift toward mobile‑centric online activity in Sri Lanka.
The device statistics further illustrate this trend. Smartphones account for 80.9 percent of all devices used to access the internet or email in the country, whereas desktops and laptops make up only 17.1 percent. This skew toward handheld technology reinforces the observation that a majority of the population engages with the web through mobile networks rather than traditional computers.
Key Statistics on Digital Skill Levels
Both the DCS bulletin and reports from the Daily Mirror stress that computer literacy remains well below the 40 percent threshold. The Daily Mirror’s headline, “Over half of Sri Lankans cannot independently use a computer,” echoes the census figures of 38.1 percent computer proficiency and mirrors concerns about the pace of digital skill development among older and rural populations.
Government officials have not provided further context on the causes of this gap in the released data, nor have they outlined specific initiatives to improve computer skills nationwide. Meanwhile, the steady rise in digital literacy and internet use points to a growing digital ecosystem that continues to shift toward mobile and internet‑dependent services, reshaping the way Sri Lankans communicate, learn, and conduct business.
