Business
“How Digital Asset Exchange and Blockchain can benefit Sri Lanka”
Bridge Advisory and Consulting in association with Syntrex Global Technologies, the Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) and Daily FT recently hosted a webinar on the 19th of January 2022 on the topic “How Digital Asset Exchange and Blockchain can benefit Sri Lanka”. With over 300 registrations, the webinar through its discourse provided valuable insights on the trending topics of Blockchain and digital assets – which continue to dominate the dialogue within many circles and networks throughout Sri Lanka.
The webinar featured cross industry panelists including, Sanjay Mendis- Chief Innovation Officer of Bridge Advisory and Consulting, Peter Hofmann- CEO, Custodigit AG, Switzerland, Kavin Phongapandecha- CEO/Co-Founder of Bitazza, Dr. Amal Illesinghe. Chief Information Officer- National Savings Bank, Prasanna Lohar- Vice President- Technology of DCB Bank Limited, Venkatesh Hariharan- Representative of Open Invention Network, Satish Mohan- Chief Technology Officer- Dhiway Networks Private Limited, Dr. Prasad Samarasinghe- FITIS Chairman and Imran Vilcassim who moderated the session.
Having understood Sri Lanka’s vision and road map on the many digitization initiatives around national ID, Blockchain and digital assets, Bridge works closely with key policy decision makers towards driving a ‘new digital economy’ and foundation throughout the country.
Speaking on ‘A possible roadmap for Sri Lanka’, Sanjay Mendis commented, “With Crypto and Blockchain being the fastest growing tech in the world, the opportunities for its adoption will also see an exponential growth in the coming years. Setting up a regulated Cryptocurrency exchange is the first part of this revolution. It is important that Sri Lanka embraces the many opportunities provided by this emerging tech, utilizing it to the fullest to drive economic growth and prosperity.”
“There has been a lot of focus on leveraging Blockchain based Technologies in Sri Lanka, from Cabinet approval in October 2021 to forming a Blockchain committee to advice the government on the way forward. We certainly see opportunities in the e-KYC space and the Central Bank has already initiated the process of exploring blockchain based solutions for e-KYC and SSID based Technology. There are also various use cases in Trade Finance, Reconciliation and Document Storage which can also be looked at” stated Dr. Amal Illesinghe when addressing the advantages to the Banking sector with Blockchain.
Speaking on Crypto tech and public policy changes, Venkatesh Hariharan, stated, “The genie of Blockchain and crypto is out of the bottle. Cryptocurrencies have a USD 2 trillion market cap and have quickly become a small percentage of world GDP, which is at USD 85 trillion. We must embrace crypto for innovation and efficiency and establish guard rails for consumer protection to get the best out of this decentralized technology.”
“The ‘National Strategy on Blockchain’ is very important milestone for any country. It should accelerate the move in the direction towards enabling trusted digital platforms creating Blockchain framework for the development of applications based on this technology. The world is moving ahead, it’s time to collaborate & accelerate this journey towards education, research, government and industry adoption” added Prasanna Lohar, while addressing the topic of ‘A national strategy for Blockchain’
“It’s great to see how Sri Lanka is embracing Blockchain and Digital Assets and how all stakeholders want to work together for a prospering Sri Lanka,” said Peter Hofmann who touched on the topic of ‘Digital Asset Management for conventional financial institutions’
The webinar highlighted the need for Sri Lanka to advance its digital transformation road map by leveraging on developing trends and emerging technologies such as Blockchain which will significantly contribute towards developing a new economy – integral to securing a stable future for the nation.
Business
SLT-MOBITEL driving Sri Lanka’s economic resilience through digital infrastructure
Corporate accolades underscore the alignment between its operational excellence and national development
In an era where national competitiveness is intrinsically tied to digital connectivity, strengthening the country’s digital backbone has become an urgent priority. Within this context, the evolving role of Sri Lanka’s leading telecommunications provider, SLT-MOBITEL, offers valuable insight into how technological infrastructure can underpin broader economic resilience.
Telecommunications and digital networks are foundational to economic transformation. By expanding high-speed broadband access, upgrading enterprise cloud capabilities, and bridging the urban-rural connectivity divide, SLT-MOBITEL helps reduce business transaction costs, streamline supply chains, and enable micro, small, and medium enterprises to reach global markets.
Recent corporate accolades further underscore this alignment between operational excellence and national development. SLT-MOBITEL’s triple triumph at the National Business Excellence Awards 2026 – winning in the Infrastructure and Utilities sector, Performance Management, and ICT Services categories – highlights its growing impact. Notably, the recognition of eChannelling’s contributions to digital healthcare reflects a broader strategic pivot toward integrated technology solutions.
“Institutional efficiency of this nature is critical for attracting foreign direct investment, as global partners increasingly assess a country’s digital maturity and systemic stability before committing capital,” noted industry observers.
Moreover, the company’s transition from a conventional telecom utility to a comprehensive digital solutions provider aligns seamlessly with Sri Lanka’s national digitalisation agenda. As the country pursues public sector modernisation, enhanced e-governance, and a competitive knowledge economy, the private sector must step up to deliver secure, scalable, and future-ready networks. Investments in data centres, cybersecurity frameworks, and advanced ICT infrastructure act as strategic buffers, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s economic apparatus remains agile and resilient amid future global uncertainties.
However, industry experts caution that while these achievements are commendable, SLT-MOBITEL still has a considerable distance to cover in fully enabling a truly digital economy.
Business
Port City Colombo strengthens Gulf investment ties at Dubai diplomatic engagement
Port City Colombo (PCC) took a prominent role as Platinum Sponsor at the second edition of Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams, a high-level diplomatic and investment engagement hosted by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The event, held on 2nd September 2026 at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, brought together over 400 senior UAE-based business leaders, investors, diplomats, and institutional stakeholders, alongside Sri Lanka’s most senior government representatives.
The gathering was graced by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, as Guest of Honour, and Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. A high-level Sri Lankan delegation – including the Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Board of Investment, the Chairman of the Export Development Board, and the Director General of Commerce – underscored the government’s strong commitment to deepening economic diplomacy with the UAE.
In his keynote address, Minister Herath reaffirmed the centuries-old ties between Sri Lanka and the Arab region, emphasising the UAE’s vital role as a key economic partner. He stressed the urgency of finalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE, which would establish a robust framework to elevate trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation. Declaring Sri Lanka “open and ready for business,” he positioned Port City Colombo as the physical embodiment of this economic mission – a modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a dedicated legal framework and competitive incentives, offering UAE investors a natural gateway to South Asia while maintaining strong Gulf connectivity.
Business
American Premium Water strikes Gold at Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026
American Premium Water has secured four wins at Dragons of Sri Lanka Awards 2026, including three Gold Dragons and one Black Dragon, marking a significant milestone for the brand following its relaunch last year.
Part of the prestigious Dragons of Asia awards, Dragons of Sri Lanka brings the program’s regional platform to the local market, celebrating creative and effective marketing communications, with entries evaluated on strategic thinking, creativity, execution and impact. Established in 2000, Dragons of Asia is one of Asia’s premier results-driven marketing awards programs.
For American Premium Water, the achievements are particularly significant given that the company’s debut at the Dragons awards has resulted in four Dragons across four categories. In the distinction of Gold Dragons, American Premium Water was recognized across three categories including Product Launch or Re Launch, Cause, Environment or Sustainability and Creative Excellence while the Black Dragon was awarded in recognition of Small Budget.
Competing alongside leading brands and agencies in Sri Lanka, American Premium Water’s four wins demonstrate the strength and effectiveness of its recent work. Winning three Gold Dragons across three distinct categories highlights the breadth of the brand’s achievements, while the Black Dragon for Small Budget further emphasizes its ability to create meaningful impact through focused and efficient investment.
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