DMASL Digital Summit 2025: Sri Lanka ignites “Rise of Digital Asia”

DMASL Past President Umair Wolid

Sunshine Consumer Chief Marketing Officer Kavi Rajapakshe

By Moiz Mustafa Turabali

The Digital Marketing Association of Sri Lanka (DMASL) successfully concluded its two-day flagship event, the DMASL Digital Summit 2025, on Thursday, 24 July, and Friday, 25 July, at the Waters Edge.

Under the bold and timely theme “Rise of Digital Asia,” this third edition of the summit firmly cemented its position as South Asia’s premier digital marketing event, notably welcoming international delegates for the first time.

Marked by an electric atmosphere, thought-provoking sessions, and invaluable networking opportunities, the summit successfully set a new benchmark for regional collaboration and innovation in the digital sphere.

From regional powerhouses to global pioneers, attendees gained unprecedented access to cutting-edge insights and meaningful connections. The inclusion of international delegates this year significantly expanded the summit’s influence, opening new avenues for cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange, a crucial step in positioning Sri Lanka as a regional digital hub.

The prestige of the DMASL Digital Summit 2025 was underscored by official endorsements from key Government bodies including the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, the Ministry of Digital Economy, and the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau. This multi-sector backing highlights the national importance placed on digital transformation and positioning Sri Lanka for future growth. Headlined by Unilever as the Title Sponsor, the event showcased a dynamic line-up of keynote speeches, insightful panel discussions, and practical workshops, delving deep into the future of marketing, the transformative power of AI, strategic branding, data analytics, and broader digital innovation.

The summit commenced with an exclusive C-suite cocktail event that quite literally lit up Colombo with dazzling fireworks, setting a high-energy tone for the two days ahead. The speaker roster was exceptionally strong, featuring a diverse array of global and regional experts.

Day 1 captivated attendees with sessions from Barış Aldanmaz on the “New Era of Content and Marketing,” Vishal Sagar on “Winning in the Attention Economy,” and Shalini Seneviratne presenting “Social by Design” and Viren Noronha humorously reminding everyone, “You’re Competing with Cat Videos.”

Day 2 continued the momentum with equally compelling topics. Umma Saini discussed the balance between “Storytellers at the Top and Performance Marketers at the Bottom,” while Amitha Amarasinghe tackled “The Trust Crisis in Digital Marketing”, Atiya Zaidi emphasised that “AI Needs EI,” Ritesh Pai shared “Phonepe’s Formula for Fintech Success,” and Masaya Asai’s talk on “The Age of AI.. I Mean the Other AI” provided a thought-provoking conclusion.

Beyond the main stage, attendees benefited from sumptuous lunch buffets on both days, followed by two-hour breakout room style sessions. These allowed participants to tailor their learning experience by picking and choosing sessions most relevant to their professional growth, a format highly reminiscent of leading international industry events. The event space was abuzz with immersive digital booths and innovative stalls from sponsors, offering guests and delegates new perspectives on branding and interactive experiences. The thoughtful inclusion of fully packed goodie bags on the first day was well-received, and exciting prizes added to the engaging atmosphere throughout the summit.

The DMASL Digital Summit 2025 wrapped up in true celebratory style with an after-party, providing a relaxed setting for further networking and solidifying the connections made over the two intensive days. 

This event truly delivered on its promise of bringing an international-calibre digital marketing experience to Colombo.

The success of the DMASL Digital Summit 2025 not only underscores the growing vibrancy of Sri Lanka’s digital marketing landscape but also its strategic intent to become a pivotal player in the “Rise of Digital Asia.” By facilitating such high-level exchanges and fostering cross-regional collaboration, DMASL is contributing significantly to enhancing the digital capabilities and economic potential of Sri Lanka, aligning perfectly with the nation’s broader digital transformation agenda.

 - Pix by Ruwan Walpola and Upul Abayasekara