LIRNEasia

08/09/2026

The World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026, held in Shanghai from 17–20 July, brought together leaders from across the world and drew global attention to the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), as well as the increasingly important question of who gets to shape the rules governing it.

In this analysis, LIRNEasia Senior Researcher Sachini Ranasinghe examines China and Sri Lanka’s positions on global AI governance, based on speeches delivered at WAIC 2026.

The analysis explores the alignment between Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech and Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eng. Eranga Weeraratne’s speech across key themes, including inclusive global AI governance, the role of the Global South, international cooperation, and AI safety and security.

Read the full analysis: https://lirneasia.net/2026/09/sri-lanka-at-waic-2026-aligning-with-a-more-inclusive-vision-for-global-ai-governance/

04/09/2026

LIRNEasia CEO Helani Galpaya will be joining the upcoming Wired World: How AI is Reshaping South Asia series for a discussion on 'AI and the Balance of Power: Technology and Political Choice in South Asia'.

The session will explore AI investment, technological sovereignty, regional cooperation, and the choices facing South Asian countries as they navigate growing dependence on global AI infrastructure and technologies.

Join the conversation on Zoom on 8 September 2026 at 6:30 p.m. IST.

Register through the link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSPJBizVlWaxG4Xxw_rAO_Kz4YbjuuX-pbtjeUC4cR0_8a8w/viewform

04/09/2026

LIRNEasia Senior Research Manager and Team Lead for Data, Algorithms, and Policy (DAP), Merl Chandana, was interviewed on NewsFirst Sri Lanka’s Face to Face programme on 9 August 2026.

The interview focused on the wonders and dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI). During the discussion, Merl discussed the potential implications of AI risks for countries such as Sri Lanka, particularly given the country’s developing digital infrastructure and limited regulatory capacity.

To address these challenges in the local context, Merl recommended that, rather than introducing entirely new laws, Sri Lanka should review and amend existing legislation to address emerging AI-related risks where applicable. He suggested that existing cybersecurity and data protection laws could be amended, strengthened, and supplemented with additional guidelines as a practical first step towards mitigating potential harms arising from these systems.

Watch the full interview: https://www.youtube.com/live/MD5-1KqFGig?si=XtoJH_UMhwAKDPcg

Newsfirst.lk English |

01/09/2026

On 18 April 2026, the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), in collaboration with the Institute for Human Development (IHD), convened a technical session at the 9th SANEM Annual Economists’ Conference in Dhaka to examine the challenges of technological change and climate transition in garment manufacturing in Bangladesh and India.

The session drew on research examining the experiences of workers and employers across both countries. Findings from Bangladesh, based on surveys of 100 employers and 200 workers, and from India, covering 100 firms and 203 workers, explored how automation, climate-adaptation technologies, and changing skill demands are reshaping employment in the garment sector.

The discussion brought together researchers, industry representatives, and policy stakeholders to examine the implications of these transitions for women, lower-skilled workers, and smaller firms, highlighting the need for gender-responsive skills development, stronger social protection, and policies that support inclusive technology adoption.

This research was conducted under the FutureWORKS Asia initiative, administered by LIRNEasia, and is part of the FutureWORKS Collective—a global effort supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC / CRDI), Canada.

Learn more about the technical session: https://lirneasia.net/futureworksasia/2026/08/technical-session-the-challenges-of-technological-change-and-climate-transition-in-garment-manufacturing-in-bangladesh-and-india/

31/08/2026

Behind every call is a BPO worker navigating the demands of the digital labour sector. Yet, many workers continue to face challenges in securing collective voice, representation, and protection at work.

In this research, the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN Pilipinas) examines different approaches to organising BPO workers in the Philippines, testing three models: Labour Management Councils, formal unions, and informal collectives.

The research asks, what organising approaches work, for whom, and under what conditions? It aims to generate practical lessons, policy recommendations, and tools to strengthen labour rights and collective power in the digital economy.

This project is one of seven research projects guided by LIRNEasia under the second grant cycle of the FutureWORKS Asia initiative, part of the FutureWORKS Collective. It is a global effort supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC / CRDI) that aims to build inclusive work futures across the Global South.

31/08/2026

On 3–5 August 2026, LIRNEasia CEO Helani Galpaya participated as a speaker at the Small Island Developing States Supreme Audit Institutions Symposium (SIDS SAIs), held in Ukulhas, Maldives. The symposium was organised by the Auditor General's Office of the Maldives and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and brought together over 50 participants from 26 countries.

Helani participated in the session “Digital Transformation and AI in Public Sector Governance in SIDs.” The session opened with presentations by Mohamed Kinaanath, PhD, (Minister of State for Homeland Security, Labour and Technology of the Maldives), Guilherme Canala, (Director of the Digital Inclusion and Digital Transformation Division at UNESCO), and Stephen Sanford (Director at the US Government Accountability Office).
This was followed by a fireside chat featuring Helani and Mohamed Shareef, PhD (Former Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change and Technology of the Maldives), moderated by Archana Shirsat (Deputy Director General, INTOSAI).

During the discussion, Helani highlighted key opportunities and challenges associated with AI for Small Island Developing States, including addressing emerging AI divides, ensuring affordable access, and strengthening AI governance and accountability. She also highlighted the importance of building local AI capabilities for local languages and contexts, and strengthening the role of Supreme Audit Institutions in auditing AI models and public-sector accountability.

Read more: https://lirneasia.net/2026/08/lirneasia-ceo-helani-galpaya-at-the-sids-sais-symposium-in-the-maldives/

26/08/2026

LIRNEasia CEO Helani Galpaya and Senior Research Fellow Sujata Gamage, PhD, will participate in the upcoming CDRI Monthly Research Seminar on “Educational Technology in Cambodian Secondary Schools.”

The session will explore evidence on Cambodia’s evolving EdTech ecosystem and the factors shaping the adoption and meaningful use of digital education solutions.

📅 𝟐𝟕 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
🕥 𝟏𝟎:𝟑𝟎 𝐀𝐌–𝟏𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌 (𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞)
💻 𝐙𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3-gAaDaBSV-HxS69tpn-Ag #/registration

🌐 𝐂𝐃𝐑𝐈 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫: 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬

As Cambodia continues to invest in digital education, an important question remains: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐝𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐚'𝐬 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦?

Join our upcoming Research Dialogue as we explore findings from interviews with EdTech stakeholders and nationwide surveys from teachers and school administrators. The discussion will examine Cambodia's evolving EdTech ecosystem and how factors such as teacher training on technology, infrastructure, institutional support, and supply-side coordination shape the adoption and use of digital education solutions.

📅 𝟐𝟕 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
🕥 𝟏𝟎:𝟑𝟎 𝐀𝐌–𝟏𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌 (𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞)
💻 𝐙𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
🔗 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3-gAaDaBSV-HxS69tpn-Ag

This session will explore how evidence can inform more effective and context-oriented EdTech policy and application in Cambodia.

📩𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐃𝐑𝐈 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫? Contact Mr NOU Seihak at [email protected].

20/08/2026

As platform work continues to expand, workers are increasingly navigating the combined pressures of technological change, AI-driven automation, and climate-related disruptions. Ensuring that this evolving labour market remains resilient and inclusive requires policies grounded in workers’ experiences and informed by dialogue among key stakeholders.

On 8 July 2026, the Social Development Research Center - De La Salle University, together with the Manila Observatory, convened a Policy Dialogue and Stakeholders’ Forum in Manila to examine the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of platform work in the Philippines.

The dialogue drew on research involving more than 100 in-depth interviews with platform workers and industry pioneers across different regions of the country. The findings informed the discussion on social protection and policy measures that could better respond to the realities faced by platform workers in a rapidly changing world of work.

The forum brought together representatives from government agencies, labour organisations, worker groups, civil society, and other stakeholders, creating space for diverse perspectives on building more resilient and inclusive platform work policies.

This research was conducted under the FutureWORKS Asia initiative, administered by LIRNEasia, and is part of the FutureWORKS Collective—a global effort supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC / CRDI), Canada.

Learn more about the policy dialogue: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DEe6zjKrx/

18/08/2026

For many children, social media has become an integral part of how they interact, communicate, and build friendships. While these platforms enable children to connect with peers, they also expose them to risks such as cyberbullying, harmful content, misinformation, online predators, and unhealthy patterns of screen use.

In response to these concerns, governments around the world are increasingly considering regulatory measures to restrict children’s access to social media. LIRNEasia Senior Research Fellow Sujata Gamage, PhD, writing in The Daily Star, highlights why restrictions alone do not address why children have become so dependent on these platforms.

She points to the steady loss of physical spaces where children can form meaningful friendships, explore independence, engage in activities, and simply spend time together. Organised activities have increasingly replaced free play, while schools often close their gates after lessons and community playgrounds continue to disappear. As a result, opportunities for children to socialise and participate in community life have become more limited, and social media has filled the gap.

Addressing these challenges requires more than restricting social media. She highlights the need to rebuild the social ecology of childhood by creating safe physical spaces where children can meet, play, learn, explore, and spend time with their peers.

Read the full article in The Daily Star:
https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/build-physical-spaces-children-banning-virtual-ones-4221616

17/08/2026

How are ageing societies across South and Southeast Asia responding to the growing demand for care, and what can their different approaches teach us?

A new article by Thisuri Rojie Ekanayake, with contributions from Gayani Hurulle (LIRNEasia), Gayathri Lokuge (Centre for Poverty Analysis), and Nilupulee Rathnayake (Centre for Poverty Analysis), examines how Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Kerala in India are responding to the challenges of ageing populations.

Across these contexts, the article explores how care is organised and delivered, and how different systems are responding to the growing needs of older people.

It highlights why coordinated and regulated care systems involving families, communities, governments, and private actors are essential for supporting healthier, more productive societies and preparing for the future of work.

This work is part of FutureWORKS Asia, which explores a range of issues shaping the future of work in the region, including how demographic change and evolving care needs are affecting work and livelihoods. The work is supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC / CRDI), Canada.

Read the full article: https://lirneasia.net/futureworksasia/2026/08/the-many-approaches-to-caring-in-ageing-societies-of-south-and-southeast-asia/