H.E. Senarath Dissanayake, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Singapore, held discussions with Mr. Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief Fintech Officer of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), and his team. This meeting preceded the Fintech delegation's visit to Sri Lanka for their participation in the Digi Econ Global Investment Summit, hosted by Sri Lanka's Ministry of Technology.
The High Commissioner underscored the importance of the delegation's trip to Sri Lanka, emphasizing that the Digi Econ Global Investment Summit 2024 will unveil Sri Lanka's strategy for advancing through technology. This summit will delve into opportunities in innovative sectors and showcase Sri Lanka's dedication to sustainability and inclusivity. Additionally, the High Commissioner provided an overview of the activities organized by the High Commission for their visit to Sri Lanka.
The Fintech delegation includes Mr. Mohanty, Mr. Alvinder Singh (Deputy Director of MAS), Dato Paul Supramaniam (Founder of Law Asia and Senior Advisor to the Board of Elevandi), and Ms. Preeti Dawra (Director of Global Marketing and Strategy in the International Engagement Unit of the President’s Office at Nanyang Technology University and Advisor to the Board of Elevandi). Mr. Mohanthy, also the Chairman of the Board of Elevandi, which is a nonprofit organization set up by MAS to foster international collaborations on technology innovation, will join a panel discussion titled “New Models of Investment Accelerating Digital Transformation” at the summit on June 25, 2024, invited by Hon. Kanaka Herath, State Minister of Technology.
The delegation is scheduled to engage with His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka to explore potential collaborations in digital public infrastructure, global connectivity for SMEs, and sustainable finance. A primary aim is to foster cross-border partnerships with the Sri Lankan government and academia, focusing on advancing fintech in the digital economy. Additionally, discussions will center on enhancing digital literacy, empowerment, and financial inclusivity.
Furthermore, the delegation intends to engage with the Chairman of the University Grants Commission and representatives from Sri Lankan universities to explore the possibility of creating a scholarship program. This program would offer Master's and PhD scholarships to Sri Lankan students at the Asian Institute of Digital Finance and Nanyang Technology University in Singapore, focusing on digital financial technology. Present at the meeting were Mr. Alvinder Singh, Deputy Director of MAS, Dato Paul Supramaniam, Senior Advisor to the Board of Elevandi, and Minister (Commercial) Mr. Yasantha Yaddehi from the High Commission.