State of AI in Sri Lankan Education 2026
Sri Lanka has never had a systematic picture of how its students use AI. While global studies track adoption in the US, UK, and India, nobody has asked Sri Lankan students directly: which tools they're using, whether those tools actually help with the local syllabus, and what barriers stop them from using AI at all.
This is that study.
Why We're Doing This
When we built BrainUs AI, we made one core bet: that generic AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini were failing Sri Lankan students because they weren't trained on the local curriculum. Students were getting answers that sounded right but didn't match their textbooks.
We built an AI system that only answers from actual Sri Lankan textbooks and past papers. But we realised we were making product decisions based on gut feeling, not data.
Questions we couldn't answer:
- What percentage of Sri Lankan students are actually using AI for studying?
- Which tools are most popular, and are those tools any good for the local syllabus?
- Do students trust AI answers? Do parents?
- What stops students from using AI: cost, access, awareness, or school policy?
- Would students pay for a tool built specifically for Sri Lankan exams?
This research is our attempt to answer all of them, and publish the results publicly so the entire education community can benefit.
What We're Measuring
The study focuses on three student segments with separate surveys for each:
- Adoption rates: How many students use AI tools, how often, and which ones
- Syllabus accuracy perception: Do students find that AI gives correct answers for Sri Lankan content?
- Device and access: What devices students study on and whether internet access is a barrier
- Institutional awareness: Whether teachers, tutors, and lecturers are encouraging or discouraging AI
- Willingness to use/pay: Interest in a free or premium AI tool built specifically for the local curriculum
- Subject difficulty: Which subjects students struggle with most (informs BrainUs content roadmap)
Methodology
Three separate surveys, each under 3 minutes. All responses are completely anonymous. No personal details are collected beyond grade/stream/university.
| Survey | Target Segment | Target Responses |
|---|---|---|
| Survey 1 | School students (Grades 6–11) | 2,000+ |
| Survey 2 | A/L students (Grades 12–13) | 2,000+ |
| Survey 3 | University students | 1,000+ |
Total target: 5,000+ responses
Each survey includes 7 shared core questions (for cross-segment comparison) plus 6–7 segment-specific questions. The core questions are identical across all three surveys so we can compare AI adoption between school, A/L, and university students directly.
Distribution is happening across WhatsApp groups, Facebook student communities, TikTok, Reddit r/srilanka, and LinkedIn, in both English and Sinhala.
Who Should Fill This In?
You, if you're:
- A student in Grades 6 to 11 (O/L stream)
- A student in Grades 12 or 13 (A/L stream)
- An undergraduate at any Sri Lankan state or private university
Each survey takes under 3 minutes. Your answers are anonymous. The full results will be published publicly, no paywall, no signup required.
Timeline
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Surveys open | April 2026 |
| Survey close | June 2026 |
| Data analysis | July–August 2026 |
| Report published | Q3 2026 |
The published report will include segment breakdowns, cross-segment comparisons, charts, and methodology notes. It will be freely available at this URL.
What Happens with the Data?
All responses are anonymous and aggregated. No individual responses will be published or shared. The final report will present findings at the group level only (e.g. "62% of A/L students have used ChatGPT for studying").
We will not use survey responses for any commercial purpose. The data is purely for the research report.
About BrainUs Research
BrainUs Research is the independent research arm of BrainUs, the AI study platform built for Sri Lankan students. We publish original studies on AI, technology, and education in Sri Lanka. All findings are made publicly available at no cost.
If you're an educator or researcher who wants to collaborate on or cite this research, reach out at [email protected].
Pick your segment below. Each survey is under 3 minutes and completely anonymous.
School Students
Grades 6–11
A/L Students
Grades 12–13
University Students
Undergraduates