Sri Lanka, Nov. 5 -- Nearly 62 per cent of Sri Lankans aged between five and 69 cannot independently operate a computer, despite the growing use of digital technology, according to the latest survey by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS).

The Computer Literacy Statistics Bulletin for the first half of 2026 found that computer literacy stood at 38.1 per cent, while digital literacy was significantly higher at 72.5 per cent.

The difference suggests that many people can use smartphones and other digital devices independently without necessarily having the skills to operate a computer.

The survey recorded a narrow gender gap in computer literacy, with 38.9 per cent of males and 37.3 per cent of females able to use a computer inde...