Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe visited the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi on October 24 to explore opportunities for strengthening Sri Lanka’s startup ecosystem through collaboration with India.
During the visit, discussions focused on India’s experience in developing startup incubation programmes, including the legal and institutional frameworks, support for early-stage businesses and partnerships with the private sector.
According to Abeysinghe, IIT Delhi receives more than 25,000 applications annually, while its incubation programme supports approximately 1,500.
He said the scale of the programme offers valuable lessons on how universities can connect research, talent, industry and investment to develop successful startups.
The discussions also explored potential collaboration between IIT Delhi and Sri Lanka’s startup ecosystem, including knowledge sharing, institutional partnerships and opportunities for Sri Lankan entrepreneurs.
The Deputy Minister said he also had the opportunity to interact with several startups developing innovative solutions with the potential to make a global impact.
“There is much we can learn from India’s experience as we work towards building a more dynamic, innovation-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sri Lanka,” he said.
Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, and Commercial Attaché Kapila accompanied the Deputy Minister during the visit. (Newswire)
