Sri Lanka’s fintech sector has produced transformative companies, but according to entrepreneur and FinTech Forum Sri Lanka Board Director, Dhanika Perera, the country’s next growth phase hinges on ecosystem strength – not just individual success. Drawing on experience founding…
Sri Lanka’s fintech sector has produced transformative companies, but according to entrepreneur and FinTech Forum Sri Lanka Board Director, Dhanika Perera, the country’s next growth phase hinges on ecosystem strength – not just individual success. Drawing on experience founding Helakuru and PayHere, he argues that challenges like regulation, interoperability, financial inclusion, digital literacy, and technology adoption require industry-wide collaboration, not solo efforts. This conviction led him to the FinTech Forum, which he believes has a broader role: creating an enabling environment where innovation can flourish across financial services, beyond product development. By uniting fintechs, banks, regulators, policymakers, and tech providers, the Forum tackles common challenges while supporting innovation for the wider economy. Key priorities include accelerating digital payments, expanding financial inclusion, promoting system interoperability, and strengthening public-private collaboration. Perera also emphasises knowledge-sharing as the sector matures, noting that more dialogue on challenges and policies will foster innovation while maintaining trust and security. A stronger ecosystem, he says, could position Sri Lanka as a regional fintech hub, improving payment infrastructure, cybersecurity, standards, and regulation. Ultimately, he measures fintech success not by company count or new technologies, but by tangible value for people—easier digital payments for small businesses, safer services for consumers, and opportunities for entrepreneurs. “Our collective goal should be simple: to build a financial ecosystem that is more inclusive, more innovative and more accessible for every Sri Lankan,” he says, adding that enabling confident participation in the digital economy is the true measure of purpose fulfilled.
