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Asia AI4DObservatory
Mapping Study

Mapping AI readiness across South Asia: institutions, data and capacity

A regional mapping study examining how national institutions, data infrastructure and skills pipelines shape the capacity of South Asian governments to adopt artificial intelligence responsibly.

A. Perera, S. Kaur, M. de Silva · Colombo Institute for Digital Policy

Published 18 April 2026

Available languages

  • English · Current version
  • සිංහල · Planned language version · content not supplied
  • தமிழ் · Planned language version · content not supplied
Sri LankaIndiaBangladeshNepalPakistanAI ReadinessAI GovernanceData Governance

Executive summary

This is placeholder executive-summary content used to evaluate the reading experience at realistic length. The study reviews national policy documents, conducts key-informant interviews and assembles a comparable indicator set across five South Asian countries.

The summary would normally describe the analytical framework, the three dimensions of readiness assessed, and the way the research team handled gaps in official data. Final text will be supplied by LIRNEasia.

Key findings

  1. 1Placeholder finding one — presented here to show how structured findings are rendered in the publication layout.
  2. 2Placeholder finding two — illustrating a finding of moderate length with a supporting clause.
  3. 3Placeholder finding three — illustrating how the component handles a longer, more qualified statement that runs across two lines on desktop.

Methodology

Placeholder methodology note. Mixed-methods design combining document review, key-informant interviews and secondary indicator analysis. Full methodology and instruments will be published alongside the final report.

Authors

  • A. PereraSenior Research Fellow, Colombo Institute for Digital Policy
  • S. KaurResearch Lead, AI Ecosystems, South Asia Technology Observatory
  • M. de SilvaPolicy Adviser, National Digital Policy Secretariat