Technology and innovation are becoming critical drivers of economic growth and competitiveness in Sri Lanka. Local companies like EWIS are at the forefront, building hardware and software locally, training a new generation of youth, and exporting Sri Lankan innovation to the world.
Speaking to Echelon, Sanjeewa Wickramanayake, Chairman & Chief Executive of EW Information Systems (EWIS), reflects on entrepreneurship, software and hardware development, and his vision for a strong Sri Lankan tech identity.
How has EWIS contributed to reducing Sri Lanka’s reliance on imported technology, and what economic benefits has this created for the local economy?
EWIS has reduced Sri Lanka’s dependence on imported technology not only by saving costs, but by building local products that compete globally.
Importing might save 5–10%, but creating products here and exporting them generates 40–50% more value. Our real advantage is in Sri Lankan talent, which we can scale to serve international markets.
With the right trade agreements and policy support, this approach can deliver long-term economic benefits: more foreign exchange, stronger brands, and a shift from low-wage industries to high-value contributions.
What kind of training and support systems has EWIS developed to help transition underprivileged youth from traditional government industry roles to tech-based employment?
EWIS traces its roots back to 1986, when East West Information Systems was founded by two entrepreneurs, Nahil Wijesuriya and Captain Weinman. That same year, the company became IBM’s first business partner in Sri Lanka, bringing world-class technology to the local market.
In 1996, EWIS expanded beyond Colombo, opening branches in Kandy, Galle, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, and Jaffna. This expansion was driven even during the height of the war, giving underprivileged youth their first real exposure to IT. Many recruits with no prior experience were trained from the ground up. Some who began as assemblers in rural factories are today SAP consultants and university lecturers.
The demand is clear: EWIS now receives over 800 applications for each intake, held every two years. By shifting young people from garments and other low-wage industries into IT and AI-enabled roles, EWIS has built a skilled workforce and enhanced Sri Lanka’s competitiveness.
How important is it for Sri Lanka to have its own tech manufacturing identity, and what role does EWIS play in shaping that national narrative?
For Sri Lanka, creating its own tech manufacturing identity is vital. With strong human capital and a strategic location between Asian producers and Western markets, the country can become a hub for value-added electronics and software.
EWIS has already proven this model by exporting Sri Lanka’s first locally manufactured laptops to Zimbabwe in 2025, and expanding into markets like Zambia. With 54 African nations, many within the Commonwealth, the export opportunity is immense.
We want Sri Lanka to revive its historical role as a trading hub. By building here and exporting globally, we can create jobs, earn foreign exchange, and put Sri Lanka on the global technology map.
While EWIS is known for its hardware, how do you see your software and services ecosystem evolving to create a complete technology platform?
Though EWIS began with hardware, the company has built a strong software and services arm since 2000.
One landmark project was the development of an ICAO-compliant photo verification and enrollment system, installed in 2,000 studios island-wide and integrated with the Department of Registration of Persons. This innovation enabled secure, standardised biometric capture across Sri Lanka, long before digital ID became a global trend.
Since then, EWIS has delivered other large-scale government and enterprise projects in healthcare, education, and security printing, consistently handling complex challenges that others avoided. We are a total solutions provider now. Sri Lankan software and services can compete globally. Just look at the Colombo Stock Exchange system, now powering London’s exchange; that’s the calibre of talent we have here.
How do you view entrepreneurship and its challenges in Sri Lanka?
Entrepreneurship is not just about money. Health and time are more important. It’s about seeing opportunities differently,
taking risks, and building people who drive growth.
I recall the skepticism when EWIS entered TV manufacturing. Many laughed and asked why we weren’t producing chips or motherboards immediately. But Rome wasn’t built in a day. We persevered and proved it could be done here. The biggest challenge is policy instability. Regulations change overnight. Entrepreneurs need governments to engage like IBM does globally asking, “What can we do to help you grow?” That’s how you foster innovation and sustainable revenue.
What policies should Sri Lanka prioritise for the future?
Sri Lanka’s future lies in building world-class local industries with global reach. If we want to avoid another economic crisis, we must strengthen local champions, give preference to Sri Lankan products, and create the conditions for exports. That is how we build a true national tech identity.
However, this requires a different mindset at the top. Too often, our policymakers think like corporate managers — cautious, procedural, unwilling to take bold risks. Entrepreneurship is the opposite. It is about seeing opportunities differently and building something out of nothing. Unless Sri Lanka’s decision-makers learn to think like entrepreneurs, we will always be stuck reacting instead of leading.”
It would also be another policy mistake to push for immediate exports.
Every great global brand first built strength at home. Samsung began producing TVs in 1970 and exported by 1971 but it only became a global leader in the 1990s. Policymakers must understand that giving local firms space to grow in the domestic market, while setting realistic export timelines, is the only way to create sustainable global champions.