Digital literacy hits 72% as computer use lags

Digital literacy across Sri Lanka reached 72%, even as traditional computer literacy remains relatively low at 39.2%.

Latest figures released by the Department of Census and Statistics show a nation heavily dependent on mobile phones rather than personal computers.

Only 21.3% of households across the island own a desktop or laptop computer, leaving smartphones to handle 80.6% of all online activity.

While 62.4% of the population regularly browse the web, just 21.7% send emails, indicating that formal digital correspondence remains a low priority.

The data reveals stark regional and social divides. Computer literacy in the urban sector stands at 54%, compared with just 19.5% in the estate sector.

Geographically, the Western Province leads the country at 50.2%, whereas the North Central Province trails at 24.3%.

Youth aged 20 to 24 record the highest internet usage rate at 91.6%, while English speakers report a 76.2% computer literacy rate compared with their monolingual peers.