Workshop on “Using Artificial Intelligence for Office Work” (06th March 2026) Successfully Conducted at the Ministry of Science and Technology

The Ministry of Science and Technology recently conducted a full-day capacity-building workshop titled “Using Artificial Intelligence for Office Work” for ministry staff. The programme was organized by the Administration Division and ICT Division of the Ministry of Science and Technology with the objective of enhancing digital productivity and introducing practical Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools that can support officers in their daily administrative and analytical tasks.

The workshop was originally planned for approximately 80 participants; however, due to the significant interest shown by ministry officers, more than 100 participants attended the programme, demonstrating the growing enthusiasm within the public sector to understand and adopt Artificial Intelligence technologies in office work.

The training programme covered several key areas related to Artificial Intelligence and its practical applications in government institutions. Topics included the history and evolution of Artificial Intelligence, understanding AI models and how AI systems function, prompt engineering techniques, configuration and effective use of AI tools, document summarization, translation, AI-assisted presentation preparation, voice-to-text technologies, image generation, and the use of NotebookLM for knowledge management and research support.

A key highlight of the workshop was the demonstration of how Artificial Intelligence tools can assist officers in analyzing and understanding complex technical documents. Officers frequently handle extensive reports, policy documents, and technical materials which can be challenging to review efficiently. Through the session, participants were introduced to practical techniques to use AI tools to simplify, summarize, and extract key insights from lengthy documents, thereby improving productivity and decision-making processes.

The workshop also included demonstrations on the use of NotebookLM, an AI-powered research and document analysis tool capable of transforming lengthy documents into structured summaries, presentation slides, and visual explanations, enabling officers to better comprehend technical information and manage knowledge more effectively.

The programme featured live demonstrations and interactive discussions, allowing participants to explore how Artificial Intelligence tools can be integrated into routine office work to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and information management.

The workshop was conducted by Eng. D.G.R. Thilina Panduka, and served as an important initiative to promote AI literacy and digital capability development within the Ministry.

This programme reflects the Ministry’s continued commitment to strengthening digital skills and encouraging the responsible adoption of emerging technologies in the public sector, contributing towards Sri Lanka’s broader vision of building a technology-driven and innovation-oriented government service.