The National IT & BPM Week held recently , was a collective endeavour supported by the National Future Talent Initiative (NFTI), which fostered collaboration among SLASSCOM, FITIS, CSSL, EDB, BCS, UGC, SLANSHEI, IEEE, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Technology, ICTA, VTA, NAITA and academia. This collaborative effort attracted a diverse audience, including students, job seekers, freelancers, aspiring entrepreneurs, and educators. The event was inaugurated by his excellency, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, with the presence of Mr. Kanaka Herath, the State Minister of Technology.
Throughout the week, a multitude of activities and initiatives were held, that empowered participants with the skills and knowledge required to excel in the IT & BPM sector. Specialized counselling sessions were tailored to the needs of students at different educational levels, providing valuable insights into the diverse career opportunities available within the industry. Additionally, a career fair created opportunities for attendees to explore internships and job prospects within the sector, benefiting both job seekers and the industry.
Sri Lanka’s IT & BPM industry has been on a remarkable trajectory, with earnings soaring to an impressive USD 1.7 billion, with a staggering 90% retained through locally generated human capital value addition. This industry has not only significantly contributed to the national GDP but has also employed over 144,000 highly skilled knowledge workers, boasting more than 500 companies, both foreign and locally owned.
With the ever-increasing global demand for technology solutions and talent, Sri Lanka has set its sights on expanding its exports to reach USD 5.0 billion and growing its skilled workforce to 200,000. This ambitious objective is designed to address the industry’s requirements, promote entrepreneurship and innovation, and establish 1000 IT/BPM startups, ultimately contributing a significant 15% to the national GDP. The IT & BPM week served as an initiative to pave the path towards achieving these aspirations.
Mr. Madu Ratnayake, Chairman of NFTI, emphasized the industry’s extraordinary growth and achievements, setting the stage for a brighter future where the youth of Sri Lanka can pursue rewarding careers in the IT/BPM sector.
Mr. Jehan Perinpanayagam, Chairman of SLASSCOM, underscored the shared commitment of industry leaders, educational institutions, and the government to nurture a future-ready workforce, reaffirming the sector’s importance to Sri Lanka’s economic landscape.
The National IT & BPM Week received invaluable support from key sponsors, including Sysco LABS as the Innovation Partner, and Gold Sponsors Accario, IFS, Intrepid Colombo (Pvt) Ltd, Millennium IT ESP, Wiley, Informatics Institute of Technology, hSenid Business Solutions, Virtusa, HCL Tech and ESoft. Silver Sponsors included Brennan, Creative Software, EFutures and 99x. Career stalls included Advania, Axcenze, ACCA, and Innodata Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Dialog Business Services, Kerner Norland, VitalHub Innovations Lab, Infomate, Scybers, I T X 360, H Connect International Private Limited (Hirdaramani Group Venture), Loop1, CMA, Envoy Ortus, topjobs, Magicbit, University of Moratuwa and Regional hubs.
The National IT & BPM Week’s resounding success not only celebrates Sri Lanka’s achievements in the IT & BPM sector but also highlights its dedication to nurturing a workforce capable of driving the nation’s growth in the global technology arena.