Startup festival Disrupt Asia 2025 set to boost India–Sri Lanka innovation ties

The event is organised by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Digital Economy and the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), in collaboration with international and regional partners.

It will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, government officials, and thought leaders from across the region. The four-day festival is designed to promote digital transformation and encourage collaboration across borders.

India is likely to play a key role this year, with several Indian startup leaders and investors scheduled to participate. Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder and CEO of Paytm, will deliver the keynote address, sharing reflections on India’s digital growth story and Sri Lanka’s ambition to become the ‘Innovation Hub of South Asia’

Rajan Anandan, Managing Director at Peak XV Partners and Surge, will speak on a panel about South Asia’s investment outlook. Other Indian participants include Kiran Chandra Kalluri from Dallas Venture Capital and Vineet Rai of Intellecap. The event will also feature representatives from the UAE, Australia, Singapore, and the UK

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka has welcomed this growing partnership. “I am delighted by the strengthening of the innovation and technology partnership between India and Sri Lanka. This has received support from leadership of both countries which can be witnessed in the growing synergies between our two countries. We are also extending support to Sri Lankan talent to benefit from the vibrant tech ecosystem in India. I wish Disrupt Asia success in building greater linkages between India and Sri Lanka in the technology and innovation domain,” said Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka.

Disrupt Asia 2025 will also see the introduction of major new initiatives, including a USD 50 million Fund of Funds to support impact-driven startups, a Virtual Special Economic Zone aimed at attracting international tech firms, and new policy measures to boost private sector participation in digital innovation.

Earlier this year, Disrupt Asia participated in Startup Mahakumbh 2025 in New Delhi, hosting a Sri Lankan pavilion with ten startups working in areas like AI, MedTech, FinTech, EdTech, and Blockchain.

During the event, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Digital Economy and India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT, focused on joint policy frameworks and cross-border innovation efforts.

The conference will also showcase 50 Sri Lankan startups, including Utech Technologies, PayMedia, Blue Lotus 360, Nanosoft Global, Agent Zappy, MAGICBITS, Emojot, and others. These companies represent a wide range of sectors such as healthcare, sustainability, finance, and AI.

With a strong lineup of speakers and startups, Disrupt Asia 2025 is expected to serve as a platform for business partnerships, knowledge exchange, and foreign investment.

For India, the event provides opportunities to access new markets, collaborate with regional innovators, and invest in Sri Lanka’s emerging tech space. For Sri Lanka, it signals a growing international interest in its startup ecosystem and broader digital economy.