A bold call for sweeping reforms in capital and talent mobility was issued by Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy, who declared that such changes are “non-negotiable” if Sri Lanka is to achieve its ambitious goal of building a US$ 15 billion digital economy.
Delivering the keynote address at the post AGM session of the Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) on Thursday, Dr. Wijayasuriya one of the key architects of the government’s DIGIECON 2030 strategy outlined a powerful vision for Sri Lanka’s digital transformation.
“We are at a critical inflection point,” he said. “To move from a service-based economy to one that creates products and owns IP, we must create a frictionless environment. We cannot expect innovators to build global companies if their wings are clipped by outdated regulations.”
The “Three T’s”: Talent, Trust, Transformation
At the core of Dr. Wijayasuriya’s address was a strategic framework he defined as the “Three T’s” – Talent, Trust, and Transformation with capital and talent mobility identified as the enablers to unlock all three.
On Talent, he challenged traditional norms in education, suggesting it’s time to rethink the relevance of four year degrees in the age of AI.
“Can we not be radical and transform our education system so that talent can be developed in 18 months and join the workforce?” he asked, presenting a bold vision for Sri Lanka to become the “AI talent capital of Asia.”
This vision, he stressed, depends heavily on talent mobility seamless access for global experts to contribute to local innovation and for Sri Lankan talent to thrive on the global stage.
On Trust, Dr. Wijayasuriya emphasized the need to position Sri Lanka as a trusted brand for global digital investment. He urged SLASSCOM to lead the way in upholding ethical standards, IP protection, and cybersecurity, all of which are now seen as critical competitive advantages.
On Transformation, he called for a national shift from offering low value outsourcing services to developing high-value, globally scalable digital solutions, including “Digital Transformation as a Service” and eventually nurturing Sri Lankan headquartered product companies.
“This transformation is impossible without capital mobility,” he stated. “Investors need the confidence that the capital they put into Sri Lankan innovation can flow freely to scale globally.”
SLASSCOM’s Role: Catalyst for Reform
Dr. Wijayasuriya positioned SLASSCOM as the key private sector force to advocate for these reforms. He urged the association and its members to champion the mindset shift needed to take full advantage of the digital economy opportunity.
“The time for incremental change is over. If we are serious about building a $15 billion digital economy, the policies that restrict capital and talent flow must be reimagined urgently,” he concluded.
As Sri Lanka charts its course toward becoming a regional digital powerhouse, Dr. Hans’ message was clear: unlocking capital and talent isn’t optional, it’s essential.
