A high-powered 15-member delegation from SLASSCOM, the national chamber for Sri Lanka’s knowledge and innovation industry, successfully concluded its participation at the 34th NASSCOM Technology & Leadership Forum (NTLF) 2026 recently. Held in Mumbai, the summit provided a vital stage for SLASSCOM to engage with global leaders on the future of AI and regional digital integration.
Navigating the “Make It Real” Era – Under the theme “Tech-Driven, Human-Centered,” NTLF 2026 convened over 1,600 global CXOs to address the transition from AI experimentation to enterprise-wide execution. The SLASSCOM delegation participated in critical sessions on: Agentic AI: The shift toward autonomous systems capable of reasoning and independent action. Innovation X: The convergence of quantum breakthroughs and AI. The Global Reorder: Navigating digital trade borders and the rise of sovereign AI, and The Intelligent Leader: Balancing rapid tech adoption with human-centric empathy.
Strategic Advocacy at the Leadership Dinner – A major highlight of the engagement was the exclusive Leadership Dinner sponsored by SLASSCOM that hosted the NASSCOM Executive Committee and keynote speakers. Building on the momentum of the NASSCOM Offsite held in Colombo in December 2025, SLASSCOM Chairperson Shehani Seneviratne addressed the audience to reaffirm the invitation for Indian companies to establish a presence in Sri Lanka.
The “India + 1” Value Proposition – As Indian Tier 1 cities face increasing infrastructure congestion and talent saturation, enterprises are actively seeking Tier 2 and Tier 3 alternatives. SLASSCOM positioned Sri Lanka as an ideal alternative destination in its “India + 1” offering that included: Strategic De-Risking: A culturally and geographically proximal hub that serves as a vital secondary location to mitigate operational risks. Specialized Ingenuity: A workforce capable of complementing India’s scale with high-end engineering and niche innovation. Ongoing Partnership: Continued collaboration between SLASSCOM and NASSCOM on key initiatives.
“Business transformation with an AI first mindset is key,” said Shehani Seneviratne, Chairperson of SLASSCOM. “At the leadership dinner, we highlighted that as Indian firms look for room to grow beyond saturated metros, Sri Lanka stands ready as a strategic partner to help de-risk and scale their operations.”
Future of Unified Regional Growth –The participation of the SLASSCOM delegation underscores a long-term commitment to fostering a unified South Asian technology corridor. By bridging the innovation ecosystems of India and Sri Lanka, both nations are set to enhance their collective standing in the global digital economy.
Moving forward, SLASSCOM remains dedicated to deep, continued engagement with NASSCOM and Indian industry leaders. This partnership is built on a shared ambition to drive technology leadership across the region, ensuring that Sri Lanka remains a central pillar in the evolving global digital landscape.