February 13, Colombo (LNW): At the World Governments Summit held in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday (11), President Anura Kumara Disanayake held an important meeting with Mike Sicilia, Executive Vice Chairman of Oracle Corporation.
The two leaders engaged in a constructive discussion centred around advancing Sri Lanka’s digital transformation, particularly in the fields of financial technology (fintech), cloud infrastructure, and governance.
The conversation primarily focused on how Oracle could assist Sri Lanka in adopting cutting-edge digital technologies to drive economic growth and enhance the efficiency of government services.
Oracle expressed its readiness to support Sri Lanka’s digitalisation ambitions, particularly through the provision of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), a platform that would help modernise the country’s IT framework. In response, President Disanayake proposed the establishment of a sovereign Oracle Cloud region in Sri Lanka.
This initiative would provide a secure and efficient platform for hosting government applications, e-governance services, and a comprehensive national data system, ensuring that the country maintains control over its data sovereignty and remains compliant with international regulations.
In line with Sri Lanka’s efforts to transition to a cashless economy, President Disanayake also extended an invitation to Oracle to help lay the groundwork for innovative fintech solutions and digital payment systems.
The President further proposed the creation of a Digital Transformation Hub in Colombo Port City, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud technologies.
He envisions this hub becoming South Asia’s leading centre for AI-driven innovation, which could boost Sri Lanka’s role in the region as a technology and digital services hub.
The President invited Mr. Sicilia to send a dedicated team to Sri Lanka to explore the feasibility of these initiatives and help expedite the process of setting up Oracle’s South Asian AI and Cloud Hub in Colombo Port City.
He expressed confidence that such a move would help position Sri Lanka as a regional leader in the field of digital transformation, fostering greater public-private partnerships and attracting investments in high-tech solutions.
Mike Sicilia, in response, expressed a keen interest in Oracle’s potential involvement in Sri Lanka’s digital evolution. He emphasised the strategic importance of establishing an AI and Cloud Hub in the country, which would not only accelerate the nation’s technological growth but also attract investments in state-of-the-art technologies.
He acknowledged the significant role Sri Lanka could play as a regional leader in AI-driven cloud solutions.
During the meeting, President Disanayake reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to embracing new technologies that would streamline governance, boost economic development, and enhance the country’s global competitiveness.
He stressed the importance of international partnerships to support the nation’s ambitious digital transformation agenda and welcomed Oracle’s potential contribution to the country’s future.
The discussions were attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, as well as Hanif Yusoof, Governor of the Western Province, who also participated in the talks, highlighting the broader political support for the digitalisation initiatives.
