Colombo to host National IT and BPM Week fostering tech awareness and innovation

Sri Lanka is gearing up for a transformative initiative, hosting the National IT and BPM Week, scheduled to take place from October 11 to 13, 2023, at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Hall in Colombo. 
The primary objective of the National IT and BPM Week is to create awareness about emerging technologies, facilitate skill development, provide career counseling, and promote IT entrepreneurship. 

This programme is designed to cater to a diverse audience, including students from both public and private universities, vocational education institutes, job seekers, and aspiring entrepreneurs within the Western Province. 
Over the course of three days, the event will offer invaluable insights into the industry, career guidance in IT and business processes, internship and job opportunities, as well as workshops conducted by technical educational institutions.

A recent media briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre showcased the significance of this initiative. Key figures involved in the programme, including Janaka Sampath Geekianage, Director (Development) of the Ministry of Technology, Madhu Ratnayake, Chairman of the National Future Talent Initiatives Institute (NFTI), Jehan Perinpanayagam, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Society for Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM), Prasad Samarawickrama, DIGIECON 2023-2030 Project Director, and other representatives addressed the gathering.

Sri Lanka’s IT and BPM industry has been experiencing remarkable growth, offering employment opportunities to over 144,000 professionals. This sector plays a unique role in the Sri Lankan economy, making a substantial contribution to the country’s GDP.

In 2022, the industry generated approximately US$ 1.7 billion. However, the government has set ambitious plans to increase this figure to an impressive US$ 5 billion. To achieve this goal and align with global trends in digitisation, automation, and artificial intelligence, the emphasis is on prioritising skill development.
The vision includes expanding the workforce in this sector to 200,000 individuals by creating fresh employment opportunities for the youth. Such growth is expected to contribute 15 percent to the country’s GDP, positioning Sri Lanka at the forefront of the economic landscape and fostering a more prosperous nation.