SLASSCOM AI Asia Summit 2025: Turning vision into measurable impact

From left: Shehani Seneviratne, Arjuna Sirinanda, and Dhaminda Siriwardena

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s transforming how industries operate, innovate, and grow. The SLASSCOM AI Asia Summit 2025, themed “AI in Action”, scheduled for 12 November at Cinnamon Grand will spotlight how AI is driving measurable transformation across sectors. Bringing together global pioneers and local changemakers,it will explore how Sri Lanka can lead in responsible, scalable AI innovation.

From vision to implementation 

SLASSCOM Board Director Arjuna Sirinanda highlighted “AI in Action isn’t just a theme, it’s a call to move from experimentation to measurable impact. The Summit will showcase how Sri Lankan companies are applying AI across real business use cases, from finance to manufacturing to services. What makes this event truly special is its focus on collaboration, uniting the ecosystem to turn Sri Lanka’s AI potential into tangible economic value.”

SLASSCOM Tech Forum Lead Dhaminda Siriwardena added that the Summit offers a unique opportunity for companies to see how AI is moving from theory to execution, providing valuable insights to build future-ready strategies, marking a shift from experimentation to measurable results. He noted that it’s focus on ethics, governance, and human-centered innovation makes it especially relevant for businesses pursuing responsible growth.

Sri Lanka as a trusted AI innovation hub 

SLASSCOM Chairperson Shehani Seneviratne reflected on the country’s growing prominence in the AI landscape. “Sri Lanka and the broader South Asian region are uniquely positioned to become leaders in responsible and scalable AI across industries. With a dynamic talent pool, innovative startups, and strong technical foundations, we have the creativity and expertise to develop AI solutions that are impactful, ethical, and globally competitive.”

Shehani also emphasised that collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers is vital to drive innovation and maximise the potential of AI. Highlighting Sri Lanka’s progress under its Digital Economy Strategy and the goal of achieving $ 5 billion in tech exports by 2030, she noted that this momentum enables the country to turn global AI knowledge into local innovation, provided investments in skills, data infrastructure, and research continue.

Building digital maturity for effective AI integration

Discussing how local businesses can better prepare for AI integration, Shehani explained. “Organisations must focus on building digital maturity, strengthening data infrastructure and upskilling teams at every level to understand and apply AI strategically.The AI Asia Summit 2025 will enable businesses to learn from global best practices and form partnerships that ensure AI adoption is both practical and sustainable. By combining internal readiness with external collaboration, companies can align AI initiatives with long-term goals. This Summit will deliver actionable insights that bridge research and implementation, serving as a catalyst to ignite the AI journey” .

The AI Asia Summit 2025 will feature an exceptional lineup of speakers, including Dr. Radheeka Jayasundera Abeyweera (John Keells Group), Dr. Rukshan Batuwita (Google), Dr. Subha Fernando (University of Moratuwa), Jayantha Fernando (Heritage), Yohan Liyanage (Altrium Ltd.), Odd Sverre Ostlie (99X Technologies), Vel Palraj (AWS), Oshada Senanayake (Brandix), Asela Waidyalankara (Talos Consulting), and Hasith Yaggahavita (99X Technology).

Amid Sri Lanka’s growing talent and digital momentum, the AI Asia Summit 2025 offers a timely platform to align with global trends and drive responsible, scalable AI innovation. SLASSCOM invites companies to join the summit to connect, collaborate, and advance Sri Lanka’s path to regional AI leadership.