The inaugural day of Digital Summit Asia Sri Lanka 2026 commenced in Colombo, convening leading figures in digital marketing, technology, creativity, and business from across Sri Lanka and the broader Asian region. Organized by the Digital Marketers Association of Sri Lanka, the two-day conference is taking place at Water’s Edge under the theme “The Epicentre.”
Serving as the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne outlined Sri Lanka’s strategic roadmap for modernization. He emphasized that the country’s geographic positioning and access to international submarine cable networks provide a strong foundation to establish the island as a regional or global data centre hub. Furthermore, the Deputy Minister pointed to the potential of artificial intelligence to revolutionize both public services and private industries, aiming to position the nation as a regional innovation hub for AI.
Addressing economic milestones, the Deputy Minister revealed that Sri Lanka is targeting five billion US dollars in digital exports by 2030. A central element of this transition includes moving toward a cashless economy by driving the adoption of digital and QR payments. Digital marketing was highlighted as a vital mechanism to shift consumer behavior away from cash reliance, while simultaneously boosting Sri Lanka’s global digital presence to elevate domestic products and services in foreign markets and secure foreign income.
Key Developments
- Announcement of a five billion US dollar digital export target for Sri Lanka by the year 2030.
- Identification of five core focus areas: digitalizing government services, expanding the digital industry, transitioning to a cashless economy, developing digital skills, and transforming traditional industries through digital innovation.
- Strategic initiatives to leverage submarine cable infrastructure to develop regional and global data centre hubs.
- Extensive conference agenda at Water’s Edge featuring workshops, roundtables, and panel sessions covering artificial intelligence, the creator economy, brand building, storytelling, and digital advertising.
- Involvement of Maharaja Media Network as the Official Electronic Media Partner for the event.
The summit gathers creators, entrepreneurs, marketers, and technology executives for collaborative discussions and knowledge exchange, with sessions scheduled to continue through its second day.