Remote-work company Oceans Talent has established a dedicated office in Colombo while maintaining its distributed workforce model, signaling continued investment in Sri Lankan talent and its goal to reach 1,000 employees.
Oceans Talent, a business services firm that connects global clients with remote workers, has inaugurated a new headquarters in Colombo as it expands its Sri Lankan operations. The company currently employs over 500 staff members—referred to internally as "Divers"—who work with more than 300 businesses worldwide in areas including strategy, operations, finance, and marketing. More than 95% of the company's workforce is based in Sri Lanka, despite the majority of its client base being located in the United States.
The opening of a physical office represents a notable shift for a company that has traditionally operated on a remote-first basis. According to Chief Experience Officer Matt Wallaert, the headquarters will serve specific functions including onboarding, collaboration, and mentorship while maintaining the flexibility that characterizes the organization's work culture. The company aims to provide employees with the option to work from a dedicated space without requiring it.
Oceans Talent's leadership frames the investment as a response to employment opportunities rather than talent shortages in Sri Lanka. Nishan de Silva Wijeyeratne, Chief of Staff for Customer Experience, stated that the company views Sri Lanka as its foundation rather than simply a market, emphasizing that the country has historically faced challenges in providing career opportunities rather than producing talented workers. The company distinguishes its model from traditional outsourcing by offering embedded, long-term positions that allow employees to build sustained careers within a single organization.
The expansion reflects broader industry trends toward borderless hiring practices. Oceans Talent positions itself as contributing to a shift in how global employers evaluate Sri Lankan professionals, arguing that international career progression no longer requires relocation.
