Sysco LABS Dialogues Demonstrates the Power of Public–Private Collaboration to Position Sri Lanka as a Global ICT Hub

The strategic panel discussion brought together leading voices from academia, policy, and industry to showcase collaborative pathways for national digital economy growth

Sysco LABS Sri Lanka successfully hosted the inaugural ‘Sysco LABS Dialogues – Academia, Policy & Industry in Information and Communications Technology’ recently, highlighting how committed public–private partnerships serve as an essential catalyst for achieving Sri Lanka's national digital economic goals.

Sysco Executive Vice President and Chief Information & Digital Officer Tom Peck gave the opening remarks at the strategic forum held at the Atrium, Cinnamon Grand. 

The evening drew senior representatives from the Export Development Board (EDB), The American Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (AmCham), SLASSCOM (Sri Lanka Association of Software and Services Companies), FITIS (Federation of Information Technology Industry of Sri Lanka), CSSL (Computer Society of Sri Lanka), universities, and other corporates in the industry. 

Speaking on the panel from an investor/corporate point of view, Tom Peck, Executive Vice President and Chief Information & Digital Officer of Sysco Corporation, shared why Sri Lanka remains a strategic ICT investment destination.

“We look for talent that can solve problems, think collaboratively, and drive real business outcomes. Sri Lanka offers that kind of talent and a supportive environment for innovation,” he said. “Over the past years, Sysco LABS has grown and expanded significantly in Sri Lanka, tackling complex business challenges and delivering innovative solutions across multiple technology domains. Sysco is leveraging these innovations to help reinvent global foodservice”

Tom highlighted that global capital seeks ecosystems where world-class talent is amplified by collaboration, and Sysco LABS’ success demonstrates how Sri Lanka’s unique partnership between policy, academia, and industry creates economic value, making it a compelling destination for continued investment.

Sharing his thoughts, Prof. Rohan Samarajiva, chairperson of LIRNEasia & Sarvodaya Fusion, emphasised that to attract serious investment, Sri Lanka must build foundational “digital rails,” starting with fast, transparent government procurement. “The most important thing is predictability and seamless interaction. The Prof. explained that this creates an essential platform for public–private partnerships to thrive, establishing a high-trust, low-friction environment where the private sector is empowered to lead and innovate. The government’s most critical role, he explained, is to enable an environment that allows collaboration to flourish and drives sustainable economic transformation.

SLASSCOM’s Chairperson Shehani Seneviratne outlined Sri Lanka's impressive ICT export journey and key milestones, showcasing how the private sector can influence policy and talent development. “For years, our industry has been driven by the private sector and passionate individuals, and that remains our strength. Today, we are working closely with universities to ensure graduates are employable and industry-ready, while also creating new pathways such as online internships. At the same time, we continue to engage with government on policy and regulation, because while policy provides the ambition, it is industry that must lead on talent and innovation to keep Sri Lanka competitive as a global ICT hub,” she noted.

The discussion also spotlighted academia’s transformative role. Dr. Ajantha Athukorale, Senior Lecturer at the University of Colombo School of Computing, described how universities are evolving from being suppliers of graduates to becoming dynamic partners. “In this era, it is vital that our graduates have strong fundamentals, so they are employable and able to tackle real-world problems. That’s why universities must go beyond theory, working with industry on curriculum design, building entrepreneurial skills, and creating opportunities such as industry–academia immersion. These collaborations ensure that the talent we produce is not only capable but also ready to innovate and contribute directly to Sri Lanka’s digital economy.” 

The Sysco LABS Dialogues demonstrated how committed partnerships are essential to achieving national digital economy goals. It explored pathways where industry can support government digital infrastructure. It also highlighted how academia can co-create a strategic, innovation-focused talent pipeline. The Dialogues further showcased why Sri Lanka is a compelling destination for global companies seeking to build purpose-driven technology. By advancing this model, the forum highlighted how collaboration can accelerate economic growth and strengthen Sri Lanka’s position as a global ICT hub.

About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food and related products to customers who prepare meals away from home. This includes restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments, entertainment venues, and more. Sysco operates 339 distribution centers, in 10 countries, with 75,000 colleagues serving approximately 730,000 customer locations. The company generated sales of more than $81 billion in fiscal year 2025 that ended June 28, 2025. 

As the world’s largest food-away-from-home distributor, Sysco offers customized supply chain solutions, bespoke specialty product offerings, and culinary support to drive customers to innovate and optimize their operations. We act as a trusted business partner to our customers, helping them grow through our industry-leading portfolio that includes fresh produce, premium proteins, specialty products, sustainably focused items, equipment and supplies, and innovative culinary solutions.   

For more information, visit www.sysco.com. For important news and key information for Sysco investors, visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at investors.sysco.com. 

About Sysco LABS:  

Sysco LABS is the Global In-House Center of Sysco Corporation (NYSE: SYY), the world’s largest foodservice company. 

Sysco LABS Sri Lanka delivers the technology that powers Sysco’s end-to-end operations, enabling the sourcing of food products, merchandising, storage and warehouse operations, order placement and pricing algorithms, the delivery of food and supplies to Sysco’s global network and the end customers’ in-restaurant dining experience.

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01 Image: Panelists and Moderator of the discussion (Left to Right): Prof. Rohan Samarajiva – Chairperson of LIRNEasia & Sarvodaya Fusion; Shehani Seneviratne – Chairperson of SLASSCOM; Dr. Ajantha Athukorale - Senior Lecturer at the University of Colombo School of Computing; Tom Peck – Executive Vice President and Chief Information & Digital Officer of Sysco; and Thushera Kawdawatta – Managing Director of Sysco LABS (Moderator).