In brief
The Department of Census and Statistics released figures on November 5 that put computer literacy at 38.1% for ages 5‑69, down from 38.4% a year earlier. Digital literacy – the ability to use smartphones and tablets – remains high at 72.5%, and internet usage has increased to 63.9%. Email use is modest, rising only to 21.9%.
In Colombo, the Department of Census and Statistics released its latest bulletin on November 5, reporting that only 38.1% of Sri Lankans aged 5 to 69 are computer literate, a slight decline from 38.4% the previous year.
Digital literacy, which includes the ability to use smartphones and tablets independently, stands at 72.5%, far higher than the computer proficiency rate.
Internet usage has risen to 63.9% from 60.4% in the corresponding period last year, while usage of e‑mail has edged up to 21.9%.
Smartphones account for 80.9% of devices used to access the internet or e‑mail, compared with 17.1% for desktops and laptops.
These figures, reported by Xinhua and corroborated by Sri Lankan news outlets including the Daily Mirror and Hiru News, paint a picture of a nation that is expanding its net‑access reach while still lagging in full computer literacy skills.
