Friday Jul 17, 2026
Friday Jul 17, 2026
Friday, 17 July 2026 00:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
From left: InfoBeans Technologies Co-Founder Avinash Sethi, NASSCOM SME Council Chair Maulik Bhansali, Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eng. Eranga Weeraratne, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, NASSCOM President Rajesh Nambiar, Chief Adviser to the President on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, and President’s Special Envoy for Foreign Investment Hanif Yusoof at the launch of the Disha Mentorship Program yesterday — Pic by Lasantha Kumara
By Charumini De Silva
India’s apex technology industry body, the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) yesterday launched its flagship Disha Mentorship Program in Sri Lanka, marking the first international expansion of the initiative and signalling a new phase in India–Sri Lanka technology collaboration focused on scaling technology small and medium enterprise (SMEs) through structured mentorship and cross-border partnerships.
Speaking at the launch, NASSCOM President Rajesh Nambiar said the future competitiveness of countries will increasingly depend on innovation, technology, talent, and international collaboration rather than traditional advantages such as market size or natural resources.
“India brings scale, deep technology expertise, and global market access, while Sri Lanka contributes exceptional talent, agility, innovation, and entrepreneurial capabilities. When we combine these strengths, we create opportunities that neither country can achieve alone,” he said.
Nambiar described Disha as more than a mentorship program, saying it creates meaningful relationships between experienced industry leaders and ambitious entrepreneurs to help young companies overcome business challenges, enter new markets, and think beyond their domestic boundaries.
He noted that while artificial intelligence (AI) has lowered barriers to innovation, technology alone is insufficient for business success.
“In the AI era, mentorship becomes even more valuable because success still depends on leadership, judgement, relationships, and strategic guidance,” he stressed.
Nambiar thanked the Government of Sri Lanka, the Indian High Commission, Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM), NASSCOM’s SME Council, and other partner organisations for bringing the initiative to Sri Lanka, expressing confidence that the program would deepen long-term business ties while increasing awareness of Sri Lanka’s technology ecosystem among Indian companies and investors.
Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha described the launch as a landmark in bilateral technology cooperation, noting that Sri Lanka is the first country outside India selected to host NASSCOM’s flagship mentorship initiative.
He said the program is designed to provide sustained guidance to entrepreneurs as they navigate the complex strategic decisions required to build successful businesses.
Jha also highlighted that the partnership is reciprocal, noting that several Sri Lankan entrepreneurs and technology leaders have already served as mentors to Indian SMEs.
He commended SLASSCOM, Hatch, TRACE Expert City, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, GAPCHECK, and other partners for identifying the inaugural cohort of 48 Sri Lankan technology SMEs.
Highlighting broader digital cooperation between the two countries, Jha pointed to the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) project as a key foundation for digital inclusion and innovation, while identifying AI as another area where India and Sri Lanka can collaborate closely.
Encouraging participating companies to maximise the opportunity, he thanked NASSCOM for choosing Sri Lanka as the program’s first international destination.
Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eng. Eranga Weeraratne welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely as Sri Lanka shifts its focus from economic stabilisation towards growth, competitiveness, and employment generation.
While acknowledging Sri Lanka’s strong pool of technical talent, he said many technology companies continue to face challenges in commercial strategy, international market access, leadership development, innovation adoption, and business networking.
“Disha can bridge these gaps by connecting entrepreneurs with experienced mentors who can challenge assumptions, share practical lessons, provide strategic guidance, and expand business networks,” he said.
The Deputy Minister stressed that successful mentorship requires commitment from both mentors and entrepreneurs.
“Mentorship is a two-way commitment. Entrepreneurs must be willing to openly discuss their challenges, act on advice, and remain focused on measurable business outcomes,” he said.
He encouraged participating SMEs to use the program to strengthen their business models, refine market strategies, expand exports, build leadership capability, and accelerate growth.
According to Eng. Weeraratne, stronger technology SMEs will contribute significantly to employment creation, export earnings, digital transformation, and Sri Lanka’s broader ambition of building a competitive digital economy while reinforcing economic ties with India.
NASSCOM SME Council Chair Maulik Bhansali delivered a detailed presentation outlining the structure and objectives of the Disha Mentoring Program.
The launch concluded with a panel discussion on ‘Technology, Partnership and Market,’ featuring WSO2 Founder Sanjiva Weerawarana, InfoBeans Technologies Co-Founder Avinash Sethi, Hatch Co-Founder and Managing Director Jeevan Gnanam, Metacube Co-Founder and COO Parijat Agrawal, and Integra Software Services Managing Director and CEO Sriram Subramanya, moderated by PickMe Founder Jiffry Zulfer.
