COLOMBO, Oct. 5 -- Nearly two-thirds of Sri Lankans lack basic computer skills, new government data shows, underscoring the country's slow progress in digital literacy even as neighbouring South Asian nations make steady gains.

According to the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS), 64.1% of Sri Lankans were unable to use a computer in 2024, while only 19.1% of households owned one. Officials said the decline reflects widening inequalities in access to technology and education.

While most South Asian countries have improved their computer literacy over the past five years, Sri Lanka's rate fell by 3.1% between 2023 and 2024, reversing earlier progress toward digital inclusion.

"Urban areas recorded the highest computer literacy at ...