Data science courses in Sri Lanka
Square1 Ai is an online school registered in Sri Lanka. It runs five live data bootcamps (Data Science, Data Analyst with AI, Data Engineering with AI, Analytics Engineer and ML Engineer), each twelve weeks on Zoom with one instructor and 10 projects you keep, from LKR 30,000; self-paced courses such as Python for AI start at LKR 9,999. Live sessions run on weekday evenings from 5:30 PM Sri Lanka and India time, with full-day sessions at weekends.
Sri Lankan founding price, until 1 December. Self-paced courses from LKR 9,999.
What data roles pay in Colombo
Monthly base pay in Colombo, from Glassdoor (September 2026). The range is the middle half of reported salaries; each role links to its source and to the bootcamps that train for it.
| Role | Median a month | Middle half | Train for it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine learning engineer22 salaries | LKR 233,333 | LKR 110,417 to LKR 279,417 | ML Engineer |
| Data scientist77 salaries | LKR 216,667 | LKR 136,833 to LKR 279,333 | Data Science |
| Data engineer115 salaries | LKR 215,417 | LKR 139,896 to LKR 355,833 | Data Engineering with AI |
| Data analyst76 salaries | LKR 112,500 | LKR 74,667 to LKR 184,667 | Data Analyst with AI, Analytics Engineer |
| Business analyst629 salaries | LKR 98,333 | LKR 64,167 to LKR 138,750 | Data Analyst with AI |
Salaries are what employers in Colombo report paying, not what Square1 Ai students earn: the first cohorts have not graduated.
Bootcamps that fit a working week in Sri Lanka.
Twelve weeks each, weekday evenings and weekend days, 25 spots a cohort. Reserving a seat holds the founding price.
Data science courses in Sri Lanka, side by side
Data science courses you can take from Sri Lanka in 2026, with their length, how they are taught and the fee each provider lists.
| Course | Length | How it is taught | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Data ScienceIIT | 3 months, 48 hours | Classroom in Colombo, online option | Not listed |
| Graduate Diploma in Data ScienceRoyal Institute Campus | 1 year | Part or full time, in person, Nugegoda | Not listed |
| Trainee Data ScientistUniversity of Moratuwa Open Learning | Not listed (15+ hours a week) | Online | Not listed |
| Live data bootcamps (5 tracks)Square1 Ai | 12 weeks, about 15 hours a week | Live online, weekday evenings from 5:30 PM and weekend days | From LKR 30,000 |
Fees and lengths as each provider lists them on its own site, checked 14 October 2026. Ask the provider for the current intake before you pay.
Four ways into data science in Sri Lanka
Each fits a different person. The right one depends on whether you need a degree, a classroom, a free start or a portfolio.
- Route 1
A BSc in Data Science
Fits when You are starting out after A/Ls, or want the maths and statistics in depth.
Watch for Three to four years; check how much of it is hands-on with real, messy data.
- Route 2
A diploma or certificate
Fits when You want a recognised institute's name and a structured course in Colombo or online.
Watch for Ask whether you finish with projects on real data or mostly with exam marks.
- Route 3
A global online course
Fits when You want theory, cheaply, at your own pace.
Watch for Completion rates are low without deadlines, and nobody checks your analysis against what a manager would ask.
- Route 4
A live online bootcamp
Fits when You are working and want a portfolio of analyses a hiring manager can read, taught live after office hours.
Watch for Square1 Ai's bootcamps are new: the first cohorts have not graduated, so there is no placement rate yet.
Questions people in Sri Lanka ask about data science
Which data science course is best in Sri Lanka?
It depends on what you need. SLIIT, NIBM and other campuses run three- to four-year BSc degrees in Data Science; for a shorter route, IIT and the University of Moratuwa's Open Learning Platform run certificates and diplomas, with their lengths and fees in the table above. If you are working and want projects an employer can check, Square1 Ai's twelve-week live bootcamps start at LKR 30,000.
How much does a data science course cost in Sri Lanka?
A Square1 Ai live data bootcamp starts at LKR 30,000 and a self-paced course at LKR 9,999: the Sri Lankan founding price, until 1 December. Other providers' fees are in the table above.
Are there free data science courses in Sri Lanka?
Square1 Ai's certification practice is free, including the Google Cloud and Azure AI fundamentals exams, with a free 20-question diagnostic for each. The free skill check tells you whether to start with the Data Analyst or the Data Science bootcamp. The live bootcamps and self-paced courses, such as Python for AI and SQL and Data for AI, are paid.
What does a data scientist earn in Sri Lanka?
The median base pay for a data scientist in Colombo is LKR 216,667 a month, with the middle half between LKR 136,833 and LKR 279,333 (Glassdoor, September 2026). A data analyst's median is LKR 112,500.
Data science or data analysis: which should I start with?
If you are new to code, start with data analysis: SQL, spreadsheets and dashboards that answer a manager's question. Data science adds Python, statistics and models on top. The free skill check places you in one or the other.
Do I need to know Python before I start?
Not for the Data Analyst bootcamp. The Data Science, Data Engineering and ML Engineer bootcamps expect some Python; the self-paced Python for AI course covers what you need first.
Can I learn data science online in Sri Lanka while working full time?
Yes. The live sessions start at 5:30 PM Sri Lanka time on weekdays, after most office hours, with full-day sessions at weekends, and the work between sessions is graded by Nova, Square1 Ai's AI tutor, whenever you submit it. Plan for about fifteen hours a week across the twelve weeks.
Does the bootcamp guarantee a job?
No. No placement rate is published because the first cohorts have not graduated. You leave with 10 projects, a recorded defence of your work an employer can watch, and a hiring plan worked through with your instructor.
How do I pay from Sri Lanka?
Reserving a seat is free and takes your name, email and country. Nothing is charged until the start date is confirmed and you say yes. Payment is through a Sri Lankan bank gateway, in rupees or US dollars.
25 spots a cohort. Hold one from Sri Lanka.
Pick a bootcamp, reserve with your name and email, and hear the start date first. Square 1 AI (Pvt) Ltd is registered in Sri Lanka.