Digital transformation will boost innovation and economic growth: Expert

Dialog Axiata PLC Director/Group CEO Supun Weerasinghe addressing the gathering alongside the panel

The digital transformation underway in Sri Lanka’s economy was the theme of discussion at an event hosted by the Australian High Commission and Australia Sri Lanka Alumni (ASLA) on February 15th at The Kingsbury, Colombo.

Two high-profile Australian alumni - Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology International Dean Prof. Mahesha Kapurubandara and Dialog Axiata PLC Director/Group Chief Executive Officer Supun Weerasinghe were joined in a panel discussion by Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Ministry Secretary Wasantha Deshapriya. Around 120 alumni of Australian institutions attended the event.

The panelists spoke about the advances Sri Lanka is making to digitise services including in the health sector with online patient bookings and digitalisation of medical tests. They noted plans to launch a new trade information portal this year and to develop a national single window on trade over the next few years, with Australian Government support.

They also talked about the important role of the private sector in leading the adoption of technology in Sri Lanka, and in helping Sri Lanka’s young people to be competitive in this digital globalised world. Weerasinghe mentioned the eZ Cash mobile banking service, developed by Dialog in partnership with the Australian Government.

The Australia Sri Lanka Alumni (ASLA) network has been established to bring together the many thousands of Sri Lankans who have studied in Australia. This number is growing fast. There are more than 10,500 enrollments by Sri Lankan students to study in Australia in 2018.

High Commissioner Hutchesson told the audience: “Our goal with ASLA is to host networking events on topics of relevance to alumni in their leadership roles across Sri Lankan society. We want to assist in building connections between alumni, to support alumni in their professional lives and help maintain connections with Australia.”