Economy

STATEMENT BY THE ICT AND STARTUP COMMUNITY IN SRI LANKA 

Summary

We represent the product, services, and startup companies of the ICT ecosystem in Sri Lanka. This community is a free and an independent group of industry leaders who deeply value our civil liberties. Sri Lanka’s digital economy represents approximately 4.37% […]

We represent the product, services, and startup companies of the ICT ecosystem in Sri Lanka. This community is a free and an independent group of industry leaders who deeply value our civil liberties. Sri Lanka’s digital economy represents approximately 4.37% of GDP and this is positioned to grow exponentially in the coming years. We represent the present and future businesses of this country and a growing ecosystem with the potential to attract foreign exchange. 

Our concerns: 

As a community, we are gravely concerned by the declaration of the state of emergency by his Excellency the President on the night of April 1st, 2022. Our community is of the view that the declaration of state of emergency is not the solution to the present social economic situation. We believe that the right approach is in fact to open a dialogue between the political leadership and the country’s constituents. 

Over the past few months our nation has faced extreme difficulties including the lack of power, fuel and basic imports necessary to sustain our lives and livelihoods. But more than facing these hardships, most of this community finds it difficult to defend and justify to its stakeholders that Sri Lanka is a safe environment to build innovative businesses, products and provide continued services at global standards. The current situation sends dangerous signals and in fact many of our community have had to start looking outside of Sri Lanka for the continued delivery of their products and services. The economic impact created by the current situation further compounds the challenges faced by our early-stage companies and will prevent necessary investment and risk capital to come into the country. We beseech the government to repeal the State of Emergency as this is causing more uncertainty amongst our stakeholders. 

This ecosystem has developed itself mostly on its own, relying on the support of each other on the values of freedom of expression and collaboration. Hence this ecosystem is firmly committed to protecting people’s basic civil liberties which includes the freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly. 

This community for its part is committed to protecting the rights of its constituents and the basic civil liberties we expect of a democratic nation state. We believe that the decisions that affect the country need to be participatory and collaborative with our industry. 

What we require from you immediately: 

  • Ensure stability in governance and fiscal management of inflation to provide overall confidence to the ICT community. 
  • Improve decision making by the government to provide the minimum power required for the continuity of our industry and introduce incentives immediately for solar and other renewable energy solutions. 
  • Provide access for startups and small businesses to the minimum dollars required to pay for essential services not available locally. 
  • Remove emergency, curfew, and suppression of citizens’ rights to peacefully protest and or express displeasure of what they are experiencing as severe hardships. 
  • Refrain from blocking access to the internet and all social media sites during states of emergencies that completely deny business for startups who rely on accessing their customers, suppliers and/or produce through these channels. 
  • We require transparency and accountability at all levels of government. 

…………………

Signed hereby 

Harsha Purasinghe Microimage 
Jeevan Gnanam Veracity/Hatch
Mangala Karunaratne Calcey Technologies
Lankan Angel Network Lankan Angel Network
Council for Startups of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Council for Startups of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Fathhi Mohamed Dishserve 
Chandima Cooray ayubo.life
Shahani Markus Emojot
Aloka Gunasekara Rebel Tusker (Private) Limited
Dinusha Kornkaduwa  Augustory Corp 
Eranga Weeraratne Omobio
Oshadie Korale  XpressJobs 
Sanjiva Weerwarana WSO2
Brindha Selvadurai Hatch Pvt Ltd
Randhula de Silva  Good Life X
Nathan Sivagananathan Hatch Pvt Ltd 
Rohith Pradeep  SAKS Global 
Yohan Wijesiriwardane  PAYable
Mustafa Kassim Roar Global
Dhanusha Muthukumarana  POTENZA PVT Limited
Raveen Wijayatilake  InGame Esports / Gamer.LK
Alagan Mahalingam Rootcode Labs
Hasith Yaggahavita 99x
Suresh Tharmarajah  ZILLIONe
Gazzaly  Maxsolpro Pvt Ltd 
Hasitha Liyanage :Different
Dulitha Wijewantha Cabbage Apps
Sivanathan Pragalathen Peercore Nexgen (Pvt) Ltd
Nuzhi Meyen Helios P2P
Jude Kumar EatMe Global
Eyas Fazul RHODA
Chameera Wijebandara LiveRoom (Pvt) Ltd.
Tharindu Malawaraarachchi Fcode Labs
Theekshana Kumara VizuaMatix
Jayakrishnan Rajagopalasarma Arogya Life Systems
Anojan Kaneshathas  Apptimus Tech
Wellington Perera Virtulink Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.
Upendra Pieris OREL IT Pvt Ltd 
Enosh Praveen Arteculate Asia
Farhard Hussain Cemex Software (Pvt) Ltd.
Ziyam Kamil Cenmetrix (Pvt) Ltd.
Jaikishen Jayesingha Urbandine
Prashanth Premakumar Agrithmics (Pvt)Ltd
Prasad Siriwardena Sterling BPO Solutions Pvt Ltd
Wasaam Ismail Loops Integrated
Lakshan De Silva SpectrifyAI
Fairooz Habeeb Silverleap
Indu Nanayakkara Impactr. 
Ravith Silva ingenieurskunst PVT ltd
Chathini Uduwana Typefi Systems 
Harsha Abegunasekara Metana
Sanjaya Ratnayake Pixel Clear (Pvt ) ltd
Kalinga Gunawardhana  Ceydigital 
Roshaan Ranasinghe  Tribefunds
Ajith Pasqual Paraqum Technologies (Pvt) Ltd
Mohammed Fawaz Curveup (PVT) LTD
Visharathan Kugamoorthy Creo 360 (Pvt) Ltd
Prathlosh Paramasivam Tectera (Pvt) Ltd
Mohammed Mafaz  Show & Tell (Pvt) Ltd 
Aabith Sabeer Simplebooks (Pvt) Ltd
Tharaka De Alwis Your Team in Asia
Buddhishan Manamperi Fcode Labs
Shavini Fernando  OxiWear.Inc
Shenali de Silva Good Life X
Johann De Cruz BISTEC Global Services Pvt Ltd
Imesh Liyanage TekSek Cyber Security 
Matti Hiob Atlas Labs
Dhyresh Mendis The Nescius
Irfan Ahmed Innovation Quotient
Midushaun Rhodes Not Another Agency
Tharindu Meepegama IDawn Technologies
Mary Prabashi Fonseka  Bashi Media 
Sabir Esufali Shopbox
Heminda Jayaweera venture frontier lanka
Aisha Wahab Arteculate Asia
Saliya Withana Enfection
Ziyam Abdeen WinSYS Networks
Sachin Wickramasinghe Thyaga
Madushanka Wanigasuriya Adeona Technologies
Gayantha De Zoysa Strive
Prasad Samarasinghe Bellvantage
Andrew Jebaraj Rocketeer Labs
Shivani A. Tyronne Miris by Islandmom
Sashini Jinasena Leo The Label (Pvt) Ltd
Surangi Perera Island Nation (pvt) Ltd 
Ismail sadurdeen Univiser Pvt Ltd
Manesh Jayawardhana  Ceyentra Technologies 
Chamira Prasad Jayasinghe Arimac Lanka Pvt Ltd
Shavin Peiries Very Bad Wizards
Bhagya Sandakelum  Blue Fish. lk (Pvt) Ltd 
Nuha Ghouse Tutopiya 
Hiranya Samarasekera CODICE
Wajira Wanigasekera  VSONE 
Kaniahka Weeramunda  PayMedia
Sasindu Pathirana DirectPay
Nelisa Algama SquareHub 
Joey Perera BoostMetrics
Nimeshanan Kulendra LearnWare (Pvt) Ltd
Zainab Miskin Lilac Kukuns – Relationship Wellness Boutique
Jehan Wijesinghe  ProductTavern
Umanda Jayobandara  Ifonix
Kirlosh Warran Leaap Media (Pvt) Ltd
Sankalpa Gamwarige Nagarro
Sara Nazoor  ALKE Sri Lanka – Handmade Jewelry 
Khalid Anver  Trad X 
Oenone Mills Night Shades Stationery
Shenuka Umagiliya  Balamu Enterprises Ltd
Mangalee Goonetilleke ReMAtics
Irosha de Silva CreativeHub
Hansa Wijayausndara Octopus BI
Damitha Jayarathna Softcodeit
Sanjaya Elvitigala  eLearning.lk
Roshan Nilaweera  GEC Lanka
Kithmal Warnasooriya Elysian Crest
John Sriskandarajah Telexar Technologies
Christiaan Quyn DataSprig Pvt LTD
Tina Lobo True 
Duminda Dharmadasa
Nithushan Uthayakumar  Blue lotus 360 Pvt LtD
Umavisakan Nathan Blue Lotus X International Pvt Ltd
Dhanika Perera PayHere
Alister Joseph  Nova Corp
Suren Pinto Wavenet International Pvt Ltd
Zulfer Jiffry PickMe
Lahiru Parhmalal Takas.lk 
Prasad Hettiarachchi Agaya Holdings (Private) Limited
Tharanga Perera Sana Commerce Pvt Ltd
Migara Amithodhana Magicbit
Sumedha Rubasinghe Entgra (Pvt) Ltd
Sajini Jayawardena Impactr.
Amjad Nazeer
Joel Damien
Dilanka Asiri VeracityDev
Rifadh Simshek Akto Solutions
CD Athuraliya ConscientAI
Dilshan Kathriarachchi  Half Life
Izzath Bisthamy Akto Solutions
Isuru prasad Aeturnum
Abdul Mujeeb FGC 
Thangarajah Thavaruban Speed IT net
Kevin Sundar Raj A P T R Development (Pvt) Ltd
Damian Perrin Vanniasinkam  Etenders.lk (Pvt) Ltd
Rumaiza Refai Urban Colour Junkie
Chaminda Kandamby  Superb Business solutions (pvt)Ltd 
Amaar Adamaly The Effect Sri Lanka
Anjale Jayawardena  The Effect Sri Lanka
Thiyagaraj Somasundaram EatMe Global
Omar Fatha Rally Tellida 
Nalina Wijesundara Techlabs Global (Pvt) Ltd
Owin CK Empire Clothing Club (Pvt) Ltd.
Safiya Sideek Elements by Safiya
Sahan Ranasinghe Sanota (Pvt.) Ltd
Anuradha Weeraman ConceptVines
Amizhthini Nakkeeran Aze IT Consultancy (Pvt) ltd
Anuruddha Rajapaksha Serendib Systems
Roshanali Amarasekera Spark 360 (Pvt) Ltd / Ceylon Organic House 
Ijaz Ahamed Ilyas  Royal Sulaiha Holdings 
Yusra Aziz Eliyas Podi Jobs
Ishara Kotagama  Plava Pvt. Ltd. 
Newan Vinthusa Code94 Labs Pvt. Ltd
Anjana Somathilake  Nuclei Technologies (Private) Limited 
Ayami Wanasinghe FI Sri Lanka
Randika Cooray Lucytech (Pvt)Ltd
Sanna Khaled Lucytech (Pvt)Ltd
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