DMASL Digital Summit 2025 sets new regional benchmark

The Digital Marketing Association of Sri Lanka (DMASL) concluded the DMASL Digital Summit 2025, a landmark two-day event held on 24-25 July at Waters Edge, Colombo. 

Now in its third edition, the summit welcomed over 1,600 participants from across Asia and beyond, including marketers, content creators, brand leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and technology strategists. With its largest and most diverse turnout to date, the summit affirmed Sri Lanka’s emergence as a key hub in the global digital ecosystem.

The event officially commenced with an exclusive C-suite gathering on 23 July at the iconic Colombo Lotus Tower, bringing together international speakers, partners, and sponsors for an exclusive evening of connection and celebration. In a historic first, the tower was lit for all of its three days in the official colours of the Digital Summit, transforming the city skyline in tribute to the summit’s vision. The Colombo Lotus Tower joined DMASL as the Official National Icon Partner, with the night culminating in a spectacular fireworks display that illuminated the Colombo skyline — symbolising Sri Lanka’s rising influence in digital innovation and regional leadership.

The keynote address was delivered by Deputy Minister, Ministry of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne, who emphasised the vital role of digital storytelling in shaping Sri Lanka’s future. “Skill up. Start up. Speak up. Sync up: Sri Lanka’s digital future needs storytellers, not just coders,” he stated. Highlighting the importance of digital marketing, he said, “Without digital marketing, even the best services can go unnoticed. With effective digital marketing, the smallest ideas can spark national change.” He outlined four key pillars to elevate Sri Lanka’s digital marketing to the next level: skill development and aggregation, startup and freelancer support, ethical and responsible digital advertising, and integration with the national digital economy policy.

Over the following two days, the summit featured a world-class lineup of speakers and thought leaders driving the future of marketing, technology, and content in Asia and beyond. Notable speakers included Schbang Chief Creative Officer and the first Indian woman to speak on stage at Cannes Lions Umma Saini; Mindvalley CGO Marisha Lakhiani, whose AI-driven strategies have generated over $ 150 million in digital revenue; Glass Lion-winning CEO and BBDO Pakistan CCO Atiya Zaidi; Droga5 Tokyo visionary CCO Masaya Asai; and award-winning global brand strategist Vishal Sagar. The program also featured Planning Folklore Founder Baiba Matisone, and creator economy leaders such as Viren Noronha (The New Thing), Rahul Tamada (Tamada Media), Luke Martin (Chopstick Travel), Vedansh Kumar (boAt Lifestyle), Junfeng Wang (Yango Ads), and Anthoney Jayasekera (Millennium Hotels and Resorts). Senior executives from Google, TikTok, Aleph, Sabre, PhonePe, Antyra, Aitken Spence, and SriLankan Airlines led applied learning sessions, fireside chats, and brand case studies.

Digital Summit Sri Lanka 2025 Event Chairs Gayathri Seneviratne and Shalendra Mendis shared, “As Co-Event Chairs of the Digital Summit Sri Lanka 2025, we are truly humbled by the energy, insight, and collaboration that filled every corner of this summit. To see over 1,000 delegates from global speakers to emerging voices come together in Sri Lanka to share ideas, and inspire action has been nothing short of extraordinary. We had marketers, creators, analysts, fintech and brands all under one roof. We had future marketers bringing in strength. So this summit wasn’t just about digital transformation; it was about building bridges across Asia, nurturing our local talent, and showing the world what Sri Lanka is capable of.”

Digital Marketing Association of Sri Lanka President Arjun Jeger added, “The DMASL Summit 2025 was more than an event — it was a movement. A coming together of minds from across the region to celebrate innovation, challenge the norm, and chart the future of digital marketing in Asia. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved, and deeply grateful to our partners, speakers, and delegates for believing in the vision. This summit was a testament to the fact that Sri Lanka is ready to lead, inspire, and make its mark on the global digital stage.”

Unilever Sri Lanka Head of Media and Activation Chaminda Samarakone remarked, “Being part of the DMASL Digital Summit 2025 was genuinely inspiring. It brought together some of the brightest minds across Asia, and the conversations sparked here showed just how much potential Sri Lanka has — not just locally, but regionally. For Unilever, this was more than a marketing summit. It was a moment to stand behind the country’s digital future and showcase the incredible talent, creativity, and ambition we have to offer the region. We’re proud to have supported an event that puts Sri Lanka on the map in such a meaningful way.”

The summit concluded with the much-anticipated Summit Social — an exclusive afterparty and networking event held on 25 July at a stunning waterfront venue in Colombo. The gathering brought together speakers, marketers, creators, and global delegates in an atmosphere that fused culture with collaboration. The evening was highlighted by immersive brand activations, vibrant music, and meaningful conversations, all culminating in a spectacular fireworks display over the water — bookending the summit with the same energy, optimism, and vision that had lit up the city on opening night.

As the digital pulse of South Asia continues to quicken, DMASL Digital Summit 2026 promises to be even bigger, bolder, and more transformative — strengthening Asia’s position as a leading digital hub and inviting the region to witness the next chapter in innovation and impact.