Future of Sri Lanka's IT sector

Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) Chairperson and 99X Technologies CEO Shehani Seneviratne in an interview shares her vision for Sri Lanka's tech industry, highlighting the importance of artificial intelligence (Al) adoption, continuous upskilling and strategic global expansion.

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She discusses how the country can position itself as a competitive technology hub, need for inclusive talent development and role of leadership in fostering a people-first, high-performance culture across the sector. Following are the excerpts from the interview.

You take the helm of SLASSCOM at a time when Sri Lanka’s tech industry is navigating both rapid technological change and a challenging economic climate. What are your immediate priorities and how will you measure success?

The global tech landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. So, our priority is to ensure that Sri Lanka’s IT industry is well-prepared to face this changing environment. A major focus is on our talent pool, making sure that our workforce is not only future-ready but also AI-ready to meet the emerging demands.

A few years ago, the industry’s key challenge was the supply of qualified talent. Today, thanks to numerous initiatives, we have a strong pool of graduates from across the country. The next step is to reskill and upskill them, so they can meet both the current industry needs and challenges of tomorrow.

The other priority is global business development. With talent in place, we need to attract high-value investments, encouraging more companies to establish centres here, while also supporting the existing companies and startups to scale globally. Startups, in particular, require guidance and support to reach international markets.

Beyond our traditional markets, we are also exploring the emerging and high-growth regions, looking for opportunities where Sri Lankan tech talent can make an impact.