A delegation from the Parliament of Sri Lanka participated in an international peer-to-peer training programme on parliamentary research, artificial intelligence (AI), innovation and foresight, held at the National Council of the Slovak Republic in Bratislava from 29 September to 2 October 2026.
Titled ‘Evidence, Innovation, and Foresight in Parliamentary Research’, the programme was conducted under the Inter Pares Partnership with the Parliament of Sri Lanka to support the continued development of the Parliamentary Research Division.
The programme provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge and best practices with research services of leading European parliaments. Discussions focused on research workflows, quality assurance, the development of accessible research products, digital knowledge management, the responsible use of AI, and forward-looking research methodologies.
The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Secretary General of Parliament. The other members were Mr. Siyath Ahemed, Librarian; Mr. Mohammed Ajiwadeen, Senior Research Officer; Ms. Tekshila Erandathi Lokuge, Senior Research Officer; Mr. Nishan Wickramasingha Mohottige, Systems Analyst; and Ms. Sachinie Gunasekara, Deputy Principal Officer.
A key focus of the training was the secure and responsible use of AI in legislative research. Participants explored institutional frameworks for AI governance, data protection, confidentiality, accuracy, political neutrality and effective human oversight. Practical sessions also demonstrated how AI tools could support evidence gathering, document comparison, summarisation and knowledge management.
The programme also highlighted the importance of legislative foresight in strengthening parliamentary decision-making. Through horizon scanning, trend identification and scenario development, parliamentary researchers can help legislators anticipate emerging challenges and assess the long-term implications of public policies beyond immediate political cycles.
During the visit, the delegation met with the Secretary General and senior officials of the National Council of the Slovak Republic. The programme also included cultural visits to the Speaker’s Gallery and the National Museum.
The Parliament of Sri Lanka expressed its sincere appreciation to the National Council of the Slovak Republic, International IDEA and the Inter Pares Partnership for supporting the initiative. Appreciation was also extended to the expert contributors and partner parliaments from Czechia, Hungary, Austria, Italy, Lithuania and the United States Congressional Research Service for their contributions to this capacity-building programme.
