By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Sri Lanka’s Emerging Tech Corridors: Where to Build, Code, and Scale
You’ve heard about Colombo. But the real IT boom is regional. Here’s your guide to Sri Lanka’s new digital frontier.
When most people think “Sri Lanka,” they think of beaches, elephants, and spicy sambol.
But hidden beneath that exotic charm is a rising grid of tech corridors, university-powered talent hubs, and government-backed IT zones that are quietly turning this island into a regional IT powerhouse.
Here’s a guide to where smart tech companies should look — not just to outsource — but to build their next innovation hub.
1. Colombo: The Epicenter of IT
Colombo is Sri Lanka’s de facto tech HQ.
Home to:
- Orion City IT Park: A major tech hub housing global firms like Virtusa, IFS, and Pearson.
- Trace City: Sri Lanka’s Silicon Valley-in-the-making, located in Maradana with tech incubators and event spaces.
- Port City Colombo: An under-construction financial and tech district on reclaimed land, pitched as South Asia’s next fintech capital.
Colombo offers:
- Access to government regulators
- High-speed connectivity
- Proximity to banks, airports, and embassies
Downside: It’s getting expensive. And traffic is a beast.
2. Kandy: The Education + Innovation Nexus
Home to the University of Peradeniya and multiple tech training centers, Kandy is becoming an academic-tech fusion zone.
Why Kandy?
- Lower cost of living than Colombo
- Access to a strong graduate pipeline
- Ongoing plans to expand into a mid-sized smart city
Already, BPOs and software startups are popping up around Kandy Industrial Park, which is slowly digitizing its infrastructure.
3. Jaffna: The Rebirth Corridor
Jaffna, once devastated by war, is seeing a digital rebirth.
With projects like:
- Yarl IT Hub: A grassroots tech movement powering youth innovation in the north.
- University of Jaffna’s computer science faculty producing smart, ambitious grads.
- Diaspora-backed startups fueling regional coding schools and co-working spaces.
For companies that want impact + innovation, Jaffna is a high-upside bet with low setup costs.
4. Galle & Matara: The Southern Surge
These cities are tourism favorites — but increasingly tech is moving in.
Why?
- Strong fiber connectivity along the southern expressway
- A growing digital nomad community
- Proximity to Southern University campuses
Galle Fort Tech Campus is a proposed public-private initiative to blend hospitality, IT, and design.
This region is perfect for creative agencies, digital studios, and companies looking for lifestyle + talent.
5. Batticaloa & Trincomalee: The Eastern Rise
These cities are newer to the IT game, but rising fast.
Key enablers:
- Eastern University and regional ICT training centers
- International NGO and development agency interest
- Infrastructure projects linked to ports and renewable energy
With proper investment, this coast could become the “digital development frontier” for impact-driven companies.
6. Talent Pipelines: Where the Coders Come From
Sri Lanka’s major tech universities include:
- University of Moratuwa (engineering and CS)
- University of Colombo (School of Computing)
- SLIIT (Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology)
- NSBM (Green University Town)
- Uva Wellassa University (emerging for data and agritech)
Many grads are remote-ready, with internships at firms like WSO2, CodeGen, and international clients.
7. Government & BOI Incentives
Tech is a government-priority sector.
Perks include:
- Up to 10-year tax holidays for IT companies via BOI
- Fast-track land and utility approvals
- EPZs (Export Processing Zones) with built-in infrastructure
Sri Lanka also launched the “IT-BPM Roadmap 2025” to double ICT exports and create 200,000 new jobs.
8. Diaspora and Regional Hubs
Sri Lanka’s tech corridor is plugged into:
- India: Via Chennai and Bangalore relationships
- Singapore/Malaysia: Expats and shared outsourcing models
- UAE: IT project pipelines and venture capital
Diaspora from Canada, Australia, and the UK are increasingly backing AI, fintech, and e-learning ventures in Sri Lanka.
Final Word: Go Beyond Colombo
Yes, Colombo is the gateway.
But the real edge is in building where others haven’t looked yet.
Set up in Kandy. Prototype in Jaffna. Expand through Galle.
Sri Lanka is not just a market. It’s a map of untapped micro-hubs ready for bold digital bets.
And if you get there early — you might just own the future.
About the Author
John is an entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of JS Morlu, LLC, a Virginia based CPA firm with multiple software ventures including www.FinovatePro.com, www.Recksoft.com and www.Fixaars.com . With operations spanning multiple countries, John is on a mission to build global infrastructure that empowers small businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. He believes in hard truths, smart execution, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. When he’s not writing or building, he’s challenging someone to a productivity contest—or inventing software that automates it.
