KNOWLEDGE SERVICES

The Knowledge Services sector which encompasses IT software development, Knowledge Process Outsourcing / Business Process Outsourcing industry, IT and IT enabled services and IT Training Centres, has tremendous potential to emerge as a key growth sector in Sri Lanka. Given the quality of students, level of English and literacy, and the proximity to India, Sri Lanka is in an ideal position to develop into a high value added IT / KPO services provider. The Industry has set the target of Export revenues of US$ 1 Bn and Employment of 100,000 by 2016 and well on the way to achieving them.

a. IT Software Development

There are over 100 software developments operations in Sri Lanka which caters to both independent and captive markets. Sri Lankan companies have been able to develop software products of their own which have earned them international recognition.

Leading software companies include Millennium Information Technology (Pvt) Ltd, Virtusa (Pvt) Ltd, Industrial and Financial Services R & D International (Pvt) Ltd. (IFS), Metatechno Lanka Company Ltd. and WSO2 Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, Intel Software (Pvt) Ltd.

b. KPO / BPO Industry

The KPO / BPO industry is an emerging sector in Sri Lanka. A still nascent industry, within its short history since 2000, KPO / BPO sector has come a considerable distance while being able to attract some of the BPO / KPO giants in the world. Sri Lanka is growing in reputation for niche areas of Financial and other Professional Services, Transaction processing and Document management, and call centre services thanks to high literacy rates (approximately 92%) and growing accounting graduates pool.

Leading KPO/BPO companies include: HSBC Data Processing Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, WNS Global Services (Pvt.) Ltd, R R Donnelly Outsource (Pvt) Ltd, Amba Research Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, Hellocorp (Pvt.) Ltd.

c. IT Enabled Services

IT enabled and IT related Services sector identify projects which require extensive use of information technology for the provision of services such as Server farms, Business Services etc. current there are close to 30 companies operating under the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. Dialog Business Services (Pvt.) Ltd, Hayleys Business Solutions (Pvt) Ltd. are some of the leading companies in this segment.

Dialog Business Services (Pvt.) Ltd, MphasiS Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, hSenid Mobile Solution (Pvt) Ltd, Heyleys Business Solutions (Pvt) Ltd.

d. IT Training Centres
In an effort to develop Sri Lanka to a Knowledge Services the education industry has been identified as one of the key areas of interest to the government of Sri Lanka. In order to ensure a consistent work force flow to meet the growing employee requirement of the knowledge services industry, IT Training has been identified individually and has been given priority. There are around 20 IT Training Centres under the BOI. Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (Guarantee) Ltd (SLIIT), Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology Lanka (Pvt) Ltd (APIIT).

Sub Sector

Whom to Contact at Board of Investments of Sri Lanka

Contact person Contact Details
Mrs. Renuka Dassanayake
Deputy Director		 Tel: +94 11 242 7240
E mail: renukad@boi.lk
Ms. Thamari Batuwanthudawa
Deputy Director		 Tel: +94 11 2543040, 2427342
E mail: thamari@boi.lk
Mr. Sujeewa Subasinghe
Assistant Director		 Tel: +94 11 2543040, 2427248
E mail: subasinghes@boi.lk
Mrs. W.S Irangani
Assistant Director		 Tel: + 94 11 242 7037
E mail: iranganiw@boi.lk
Major Investors
  • HSBC Global Resourcing (UK)
  • Virtusa
  • IFS Bn
  • WSO2
  • R R Donnelly Outsource (Pvt) Ltd
  • Amba Research Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd.
  • Hellocorp (Pvt.) Ltd
  • Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd (APIIT)
  • Millenium Information Technology (MIT)
  • WNS (Holdings) Ltd
  • 99X Technology Ltd

Last modified on 10/02/2020