Why Sri Lanka and Serbia Presidents Are in Delhi for AI Summit

Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic have reached New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit 2026. Their visit is not just ceremonial. It signals stronger diplomatic ties with India and a shared interest in shaping the global future of artificial intelligence. The summit places India at the center of worldwide AI discussions.

Sri Lanka’s Big Message at the AI Table

Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived in Delhi on Tuesday evening. He was received by Minister of State Raj Bhushan Choudhary at the airport. The welcome looked warm, not just formal.

Sri Lanka has called this summit important, especially as new technologies begin to reshape economies. For Colombo, attending a major AI event hosted in the Global South carries meaning. It shows trust in India’s leadership role. It also highlights how close the India–Sri Lanka partnership has grown over the years.

The visit builds on his earlier State Visit to India in December 2024. That trip had produced a joint vision statement focused on a shared future. Since then, cooperation has expanded. Connectivity projects, digital links, economic engagement, and training programmes have moved forward quietly but steadily.

Officials from Sri Lanka have said innovation must remain inclusive and responsible. That idea is key. Technology without fairness can divide societies. Both nations appear aware of that risk.

Serbia Joins the Global AI Conversation

Aleksandar Vucic also landed in New Delhi to attend the summit. He was welcomed by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita.

Serbia’s participation adds a European dimension to the event. India and Serbia already share friendly ties. High-level visits like this usually deepen cooperation in trade, technology, and education. Artificial intelligence now becomes part of that discussion.

For Serbia, engaging in AI debates in India reflects openness to new partnerships. For India, it shows its growing ability to bring countries from different regions onto one platform.

Inside the AI Impact Summit 2026

The summit is being held at Bharat Mandapam from February 16 to 20. The scale is large. More than 110 countries are participating. Around 30 international organisations are present. Nearly 20 heads of state or government have joined, along with dozens of ministers.

This is not a small conference. It is the fourth in a global series of AI summits after meetings in the UK, South Korea, and France. Hosting it now places India among key global voices on artificial intelligence governance.

The theme links closely with the idea of welfare for all and happiness for all. In simple terms, AI must serve humanity, not replace it. That principle keeps returning in speeches and statements.

What This Means for India’s Global Role

India is clearly positioning itself as a bridge between developed and developing nations in the AI space. By hosting leaders from Asia, Europe, and beyond, it sends a signal. The country wants to help shape rules, standards, and ethical frameworks.

The presence of Sri Lanka and Serbia underlines something deeper. AI is no longer just about software or startups. It has become diplomatic currency. Countries discuss it the same way they once discussed trade or defense.

For ordinary people, these visits may look distant. Yet decisions taken at such summits can influence education systems, job markets, data protection laws, and digital services in the coming years.

New Delhi this week feels like more than a capital city. It feels like a meeting ground for the future. And with presidents flying in to talk about artificial intelligence, that future suddenly seems closer than many expected.