The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh facilitated virtual discussion on 25 August 2025 to explore ways and means for digital collaboration between the Ministry of Digital Economy of Sri Lanka and the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While Deputy Minister of Digital Economy of Sri Lanka, Eng. Eranga Weeraratne led the Sri Lanka delegation, Secretary General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), Deemah AlYahya led the DCO delegation.
Delivering her opening remarks Secretary General of the DCO, Deemah AlYahya briefed on the mandate of the DCO and its successful collaborative programmes and projects in the digital domain to foster bilateral and multilateral cooperation. She also extended an invitation for Sri Lanka to join the DCO as a member State.
In response, Deputy Minister Weeraratne outlined Sri Lanka’s progress in advancing digital transformation and shared the government’s plans for strengthening the digital economy. He invited the DCO to participate in Disrupt Asia 2025, the premier digital and innovation exhibition to be held in Colombo from 17 - 20 September 2025.
During the discussion, Chief Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka on Digital Economy and the Chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya stressed the importance of sharing experiences of different countries in the digital domain for mutual benefits. Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ameer Ajwad highlighted vistas of potential opportunities for collaboration in the digital space between the Ministry of Digital Economy of Sri Lanka and the DCO and stressed the importance of forging partnership in light of the shared vision of both institutions.
Actg. Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy, Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Director, Ministry of Digital Economy, Dimuth Atapattu, Director Industry Development of ICTA, Chiranthi Balapatabendi, Associate Chief Digital Economy Officer of ICTA, Sachindra Samararatne and Deputy Minister’s Coordinating Secretary, Sasitha Priyankara as well as Officials of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh, Minister, Mohamed Anas and First Secretary, Tashma Vithanawasam participated representing Sri Lanka delegation. Council Affairs and Strategic Relations Manager, Omar A. Al Nemer, Government Affairs Senior Manager, Grace Oluche, and Government Affairs Senior Specialist, Mohammed Al-Tai participated representing the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO).
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in the field of digital development and to exploring opportunities for partnerships in this field including capacity-building for SMEs and Startup sectors.
The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) which aims at achieving social prosperity and growth of the Digital Economy by unifying efforts to advance digital transformation, brings together governments from 16 countries, collectively representing nearly $3.5 trillion in GDP and a market of nearly 800 million people.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Riyadh
03 September 2025
