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Figure 5: IMD Ranking of selected Southern Asia and the Pacific region countries, 2019
Source: IMD World Competitiveness Centre, 2019

To analyze Sri Lanka’s digital needs met, they are not able to ‘Human Capital’ sub-component
readiness, we can use a few ind- reap the benefits of technology. scored 2.27 (out of 4.00) where it
ices. Let’s look into the Cisco Sri Lanka scored 3.53 (out of represents moderate digital skills
Global Digital Readiness (CG- 4.00) for the index component of level within the workforce. The
DR) Index which helps countries ‘Basic Human Needs’ where the sub-component of ‘Ease of Doing
understand how well-positioned index assessed life expectancy, Business’ was measured by exa-
they are to take the benefits of the mortality rate of children mining the factors; local rule of
digitization. under five years of age, and law, the Ease of Doing Business
access to basic services such as Index, the Logistics Performance
Sri Lanka’s CGDR index score electricity and safe drinking water Index (LPI) infrastructure rating,
provides insight into its overall are at a quite satisfactory level. and the time it takes businesses to
progress towards digital readiness obtain access to electricity. Sri
calculating 10.58 out of a maxi- Lanka recorded 2.24 (out of 4.00)
mum possible total of 25.0 repre- for this sub-component. But con-
senting a minimum acceleration. troversially, Sri Lanka positioned
The CGDR index has taken a low in technology adaption and
holistic approach that includes infrastructure as in 2019 it
seven different components to indicates 0.86 (out of 3.00) for
build a complete picture of a cou- ‘Technology Adaption’ and 0.39
nty’s digital readiness taking sev- (out of 4.00) for ‘Technology
en components into the consider- Infrastructure’ showing minimum
ation. activation on its digital journey.

The true value of a nation’s Figure 6: Digital Readiness of Sri According to the Global Compet-
technology and infrastructure is Lanka (CGDRI-2019) itiveness Index 4.0 in 2019 editi-
delivered through its population’s Source: Cisco public| Cisco on, Sri Lanka ranked 107th (out
ability to take advantage of it. Global Digital Readiness Index, of 141 countries) for ICT
Without a population’s basic 2019 adoption (index components:

56 January 2021