Dr Sarath Obeysekera

I raised query to AI as below 

Quote 

Secret of using AI resources for somone who wants generate a assay or an article 

The person should have made some technical input and past resources and data into AI search engine 

Ie 

I keep searching about Trinco offshore development and need for FDI for Sri Lanka and AI keep referring to same 

Then only AI can provide a resourceful essay as per a request

I need AI opinion please 

Unquote 

By Sarath Obeysekera

In recent times, there has been a growing fascination with artificial intelligence as a tool to generate essays, policy papers, and even national strategies. Many assume that by repeatedly searching a topic—such as offshore development in Trincomalee or foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities in Sri Lanka—AI systems will eventually learn” and produce increasingly refined outputs.

This assumption is misleading.

Artificial intelligence does not think, reflect, or accumulate wisdom through repeated prompts. It does not develop conviction about Trincomalee becoming a marine hub simply because one individual has searched for it a hundred times. Instead, AI operates as a mirror—reflecting the depth, clarity, and structure of the information provided to it at a given moment.

If the input is shallow, the output will be generic.

If the input is rich, technical, and purposeful, the output becomes insightful.

This distinction is critical for Sri Lanka, particularly at a time when the country is searching for viable economic pathways in a volatile global environment.

Take Trincomalee, for example—one of the finest natural harbors in the world, strategically positioned along major Indian Ocean shipping routes. The potential for offshore industry development, bunkering, ship repair, and energy logistics is immense. Yet, despite decades of discussion, progress has been slow, fragmented, and often politically diluted.

Now imagine two individuals asking AI to write about Trincomalee:

• One simply types: Write an essay on Trincomalee development.”
• Another provides context: existing port limitations, comparative analysis with regional hubs like Singapore and Dubai, policy bottlenecks, FDI barriers, and specific proposals for PPP-driven offshore infrastructure.

The difference in output will be profound.

The second individual is not using AI as a crutch, but as a collaborator—feeding it structured insight and expecting structured amplification.

This is where Sri Lanka’s policymakers, professionals, and young thinkers must adapt.

If we want AI to produce meaningful contributions to national discourse, we must first elevate our own inputs:

• Provide data, not just opinions
• Frame problems, not just topics
• Offer solutions, not just criticism

In the context of attracting FDI to Trincomalee, this means going beyond slogans. It requires clearly defined project pipelines, bankable feasibility studies, transparent regulatory frameworks, and a willingness to engage global investors on competitive terms.

AI can help draft proposals, simulate scenarios, and refine arguments—but it cannot substitute for vision, experience, or courage in decision-making.

In fact, the real risk is not that AI will replace human thinking, but that it will expose the lack of it.

• Sri Lanka does not suffer from a shortage of tools. It suffers from a shortage of structured, decisive input into those tools—whether they are institutions, policies, or technologies.

Artificial intelligence, when used correctly, can become a powerful ally in shaping the future of sectors like offshore development in Trincomalee. But only if we understand one fundamental truth:

Regards

Dr Sarath Obeysekera