SLASSCOM’s Global Referral Program opens up business opportunities in UK

High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK Saroja Sirisena

APSL President Dr. Mahesh de Silva

SLASSCOM Chairman Channa Manoharan

Having recently introduced its Global Referral Programme with the objective of connecting local IT-BPM companies with business opportunities overseas via a global network of channel referral partners, Sri Lanka Association for Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka High Commission in UK and the Association of Professional Sri Lankans in the UK (APSL UK) launched the program globally in the UK recently. 

Participated by over 140 professionals in the UK the event had a highly interactive Q&A session followed by a virtual networking where participants openly discussed collaborations with the industry in Sri Lanka.  

Moderated by IT Consultant and APSL Past President Mervyn Silva, the opening remarks were delivered by High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK Saroja Sirisena, who stated that the objective of the Government is to make Sri Lanka digitally inclusive and take the vibrant Sri Lankan ICT sector to the global platform. 

She further stated that the High Commission initiated this webinar to provide the opportunity to bring Sri Lankan talent to the global front with the contribution of the diverse and well-established British Sri Lankan community.

APSL President Dr. Mahesh de Silva introducing the association to the attendees added: “As a professional association that supported the Sri Lankan community both in the UK and Sri Lanka over the past 16 years, APSL is well placed to help Sri Lankan businesses during these challenging times. We hope the SLASSCOM Global Referral Program will provide an effective platform for Sri Lankan IT companies to grow their businesses internationally.”

The event agenda had Board of Investment Director General Sanjay Mohottala speaking on the Investment Climate and Opportunities in the ICT sector while SLASSOM Chairman Channa Manoharan gave an overview into the Sri Lankan IT/BPM sector and the industry brand Island of Ingenuity. 

“The Global Referral Program will be an important platform for the Sri Lankan IT-BPM companies to find new business opportunities and partner in the UK and other countries. We are very thankful to our ambassador Saroja Sirisena, Commerce Minister Dr. Lakmini Mendis, APSL President Dr. Mahesh de Silva, Mervyn Silva and the teams from both countries who made this webinar a success and we look forward to continuing our close collaboration,” noted Channa Manoharan.

As the Board Director representing the Marketing Forum, Shiraz Lye shared that he was impressed by the interest and enthusiasm shown by the participants for the program. “The support given by the Sri Lanka High Commissioner of UK and her team was remarkable. We trust this could be replicated across many other High Commission offices and Sri Lankan embassies to connect possible business partnerships”. Shiraz further added “We will be collaborating with the Sri Lankan High Commissions in key markets with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Commerce, the Board of Investment, the Export Development Board, and the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka”.

Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) is the national chamber for the knowledge and innovation industry in Sri Lanka. It acts as the catalyst of growth by facilitating trade and business, propagation of education and employment, encouraging research and innovation, and by supporting the creation of a forward thinking and progressive national policy framework. SLASSCOM has over 200 member companies accounting for approximately 90% of the IT-BPM industry export revenue and drives the Imagination Economy. Sri Lanka’s Industry of the future, with the potential to become the #1 export revenue earner for Sri Lanka. SLASSCOM is also supported on this initiative by their Corporate sponsor Dialog.