Women in Tech Sri Lanka and Tiqri Launch ‘Rise with AI’ Workshop to Empower the Next Generation of Female Innovators

Sanali Kaushalya, Country Director for Women in Tech Sri Lanka (center) with students

Women in Tech Sri Lanka, the official Sri Lanka chapter of the global Women in Tech movement, has successfully concluded its ‘Rise with AI’ workshop, a pioneering initiative designed to introduce school girls to Artificial Intelligence and inspire the next generation of female technology leaders. Delivered in partnership with Tiqri, the programme marks a significant step in expanding access to emerging technologies for young women across the country.

The session brought together a group of enthusiastic students who were introduced to the fundamentals of AI through engaging, hands-on activities, teamwork, and creative exploration. Designed not only to educate but to inspire, the workshop created a supportive and inclusive space where participants could ask questions freely, build confidence, and begin to see themselves as future innovators and technology leaders.

Sanali Kaushalya, Director of Women in Tech Sri Lanka, said

The future is powered by AI  and it is essential that she is part of it. Early exposure to technologies like Artificial Intelligence is not just about education; it is about dismantling the stereotypes and structural barriers that have historically kept girls away from STEM. When we give young girls the opportunity to learn, experiment, and lead, we are not just shaping individual futures, we are shaping the future of our nation.

The ‘Rise with AI’ workshop underscores the increasingly critical role that early STEM exposure plays in closing the gender gap in technology. By making AI accessible, relatable, and engaging, Women in Tech Sri Lanka and Tiqri aim to nurture curiosity and empower young girls to explore pathways they may not have previously imagined possible.

This initiative forms part of a broader commitment by Women in Tech Sri Lanka to build a more diverse and inclusive digital ecosystem, through networking events, mentorship programmes, skill-building initiatives, and strategic partnerships that uplift and educate young women at every stage of their journey into technology.

Empowering girls today is an investment in a more inclusive and innovative tomorrow, added Kaushalya. Rise with AI is one of many steps we are taking toward a Sri Lanka where every girl has the confidence and tools to shape the digital world, not just inhabit it.

Women in Tech Sri Lanka continues to welcome schools, organisations, and individuals committed to advancing gender equity in technology to join this growing movement.