The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) marked its 76th anniversary with a high-level oration on how artificial intelligence is reshaping central banking, held at the Central Bank Atrium on 23 October 2026.
The oration was delivered by Shirin Hamid, Chief Information Officer and Director of the Information Technology Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Her address, titled “The Intelligent Central Bank: Building Trust in the Age of AI,” explored both the promise and the pitfalls of deploying AI in monetary and financial institutions.
Hamid said AI holds significant potential to strengthen how central banks carry out their mandates, but warned that the associated risks demand careful management. She stressed that building and sustaining public trust is essential as central banks increasingly weave AI-driven solutions into their operations and decision-making.
Responsible adoption, she argued, depends on systems that are explainable, secure and ethical, backed by robust governance frameworks. She also underlined the need for effective human oversight, to ensure AI enhances institutional accountability, sharpens decision-making and improves operational effectiveness. The occasion served as a platform for dialogue and knowledge-sharing on AI’s evolving role in central banking, with particular attention to its implications for institutional credibility, public trust and operational effectiveness. In a statement issued by its Secretariat Department on 27 October, the CBSL said the oration reaffirmed its commitment to fostering informed dialogue on emerging technologies and their responsible adoption. The bank said the aim is to strengthen institutional resilience, preserve public trust and prepare for the future of central banking.
The anniversary oration comes as central banks worldwide weigh how to harness advanced technologies while safeguarding the credibility that underpins their work.
Source : Daily News