How a homegrown tech powerhouse is redefining Sri Lanka's digital destiny

IN an era where digital sovereignty has become synonymous with national resilience, OREL IT stands as a compelling case study.

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A Sri Lankan-born technology firm that has quietly evolved into a global technology provider while anchoring its mission in local empowerment.

With deep-rooted expertise in artificial intelligence and data science, and a diversified portfolio spanning cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, software development and data centre solutions, OREL IT is challenging the notion that emerging markets must rely on foreign technology imports. Instead, it is proving that Sri Lanka can be a creator—not just a consumer of next gen digital solutions.

From humble beginnings to AI leadership

The company's origins trace back to an ambitious bet, that Sri Lanka could compete in the global AI value chain. Long before Al became a buzzword, OREL IT established itself as a pioneer in data annotation, laying the groundwork for advanced machine learning models used by Fortune 500 companies. Its early work powered innovations ranging from autonomous vehicles to medical diagnostics—proving that Sri Lankan talent could deliver world-class AI solutions.

"When we started, the assumption was that Al expertise had to come from Silicon Valley or Europe," recalls OREL IT CEO Dr. Upendra Pieris. "But we saw differently. Our engineers were just as capable. They simply needed the right platform. Today, we're not just service providers; we're solution architects shaping industries worldwide."

A diversified tech ecosystem with global reach

This story is from the May 02, 2025 edition of Daily FT.

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