Dialog Axiata and the Dialog–UoM Research Lab have released SinhalaVITS as an open source Sinhala Text-to-Speech model.
Dialog Axiata PLC and the Dialog–University of Moratuwa (UoM) Mobile Communications Research Lab have launched SinhalaVITS, a state-of-the-art, open source Text-to-Speech (TTS) model for the Sinhala language, positioning open-source AI as critical national digital infrastructure for Sri Lanka.
Released as a non-commercial, open source initiative, SinhalaVITS delivers a high-quality, natural-sounding Sinhala voice model that is freely available to developers, researchers, and students. The model is hosted on Hugging Face, the world’s largest open-source AI platform, allowing unrestricted access, use, and experimentation without licensing or cost barriers.
The launch directly addresses a long-standing gap in Sri Lanka’s technology ecosystem, where access to high-performance local-language AI tools has been constrained by proprietary platforms and restrictive licensing models. By open-sourcing SinhalaVITS, Dialog aims to democratise voice AI and enable broader innovation across education, healthcare, accessibility, and public services.
The initiative is the result of a sustained industry–academia collaboration, combining Dialog’s industry expertise with the research capabilities of the Dialog–UoM Mobile Communications Research Lab. It also strengthens Sri Lanka’s sovereign AI capabilities, reducing dependence on closed-source foreign language models that often overlook regional languages.
Commenting on the release, Dr Romesh Ranawana, Group Chief Analytics and AI Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC, said, “Local-language AI is vital for building an inclusive digital economy in Sri Lanka… By open-sourcing this model, Dialog is helping nurture home-grown innovation and build the digital infrastructure the country needs for the future.”
Prof. Dileeka Dias, Director, Dialog–UoM Research Lab, added, “Our aim in this initiative is to unlock new possibilities to shape the next era of voice technology in Sri Lanka by bridging industry and academia.”
