Nishan Mendis has been appointed as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Association of Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) for 2024/2025. He brings extensive experience from his roles at Deloitte Sri Lanka and Maldives, and his 17-year tenure at PwC Sri Lanka, where he held key positions, including Technology Consulting Leader and Chief Information Officer.

At SLASSCOM, Nishan has played pivotal roles since its inception, contributing as Vice Chairman and Head of several forums. His vision is to position Sri Lanka as a global hub for technological innovation and excellence, leveraging the country’s strengths in collaboration, resilience, and innovation. He aims to build on the legacy of past leaders, ensuring continuity and progress.

Nishan acknowledges the significant growth of Sri Lanka’s IT/BPM industry, which employs over 140,000 professionals, but also recognizes challenges such as brain drain, negative economic perceptions, and increased business costs. He stresses the importance of introspection to understand the industry’s current standing and future direction.

His strategic initiatives for SLASSCOM include enhancing global trade and investment, fostering talent development, promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, and driving nation-building through policy advocacy. He plans to maintain dialogues with government authorities to create a business-friendly environment and attract investments. He also intends to introduce an ‘Industry Ambassador Program’ to leverage the expertise of Sri Lankans abroad and support member companies in export markets through the ‘Empowering Global Growth’ program.

To address talent loss, Nishan will focus on upskilling and cross-skilling the workforce, with the SLASSCOM Academy playing a crucial role. Collaborations with universities will ensure a continuous supply of future-ready talent. He aims to foster a culture of innovation and create new partnerships with global ecosystems to support startups and entrepreneurs.

Nishan envisions SLASSCOM playing a key role in nation-building by engaging with the government to address industry challenges and propose effective measures. He emphasizes the importance of unity and volunteer spirit within SLASSCOM and aims to foster cooperation to propel the industry forward. As Chairman, he will be supported by a twelve-member board and a twenty-seven-member general council, including key industry professionals.