In a bid to convert Sri Lanka’s surging mobile data usage into tangible economic productivity, the British High Commission recently hosted a high-level digital strategy forum at Westminster House in Colombo. Organized in collaboration with UK digital product consultancy Apadmi, the invite-only event brought together senior executives from retail, banking, telecommunications, hospitality, and the public sector.
Key Highlights
- Surging Mobile Usage: Mobile data consumption in Sri Lanka reached 1.03 million terabytes in Q2, marking a 31% year-on-year increase.
- High Smartphone Penetration: Out of 29.4 million mobile subscriptions, 71% are now linked to smartphones or tablets.
- UK-Sri Lanka Tech Partnership: The forum marked Apadmi’s first major Sri Lankan event since establishing a permanent office in Colombo.
- Industry Benchmarks: Insights were shared from major implementations, including Keells’ loyalty platform serving 2.9 million users.
Titled ‘Turning Digital Assets into Growth Engines,’ the event explored strategies for local businesses to convert expanding digital engagement into long-term customer loyalty, new revenue streams, and improved operational efficiency.
Opening the forum, British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick welcomed attendees before handing over to keynote speaker Niresh Muthuratnanandan, Head of Omni Commerce, Digital & Loyalty at Keells Supermarkets. Muthuratnanandan outlined the digital transformation of the Keells Nexus app, detailing how the retailer modernized a loyalty program that now serves nearly three million members.
A subsequent panel discussion, moderated by Apadmi Chief Growth Officer Mark Collin, featured insights from prominent industry figures including Malik Induruwana (CIO at HSBC Sri Lanka & Maldives), Jiffry Zulfer (Founder and CEO of PickMe), Uthpala Pinnaduwahewa (Hatton National Bank), and Marcus Hadfield (Chief Strategy Officer at Apadmi).
Highlighting the significance of the partnership, British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick stated, “Digital innovation is an increasingly vital part of the longstanding relationship between the UK and Sri Lanka. Apadmi’s decision to establish a base in Colombo reflects the growing confidence UK companies have in Sri Lanka’s digital economy.”