Breaking News
Tracy
Tracy
Oct 20 2026
20Seven-member DPI Advisory Panel and “Give Back” programme connect international expertise with government-led transformation priorities in Sri Lanka
Connect to Care (CTC), a Sri Lankan non-governmental organisation working alongside government, philanthropic and development partners, has established a seven-member Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Advisory Panel and launched “Give Back”, a structured programme enabling Sri Lankan professionals worldwide to contribute expertise to priority digital transformation initiatives.
Together, the initiatives are designed to connect international experience, specialist knowledge and local implementation capabilities with government-led priorities, with a clear focus on translating digital transformation into measurable improvements in citizens’ lives.
The Advisory Panel comprises Illango Patchamuthu, Indika De Zoysa, Karthik Subramanian, Vajira Weerasekera, Chandi H. Dharmaratne, Vishaka Nanayakkara and Keith De Alwis. Collectively, they bring experience spanning global development, digital policy, enterprise technology, artificial intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure, digital health, organisational transformation, academia and large-scale technology implementation.
Illango Patchamuthu brings more than three decades of international development experience, including senior World Bank leadership and, most recently, his role as Director, Strategy and Operations in its Digital & AI Vice Presidency. Indika De Zoysa contributes approximately three decades of experience across technology, digital policy, industry development and public-private collaboration, including senior leadership at Huawei Technologies Lanka.
Karthik Subramanian, former Global Chief Technology Officer of Global Fashion Group and former CTO of ZALORA, brings extensive experience in scaling digital platforms, data capabilities and consumer-facing technology businesses. Vajira Weerasekera adds more than three decades of technology leadership across Asia, Europe and the United States, including senior roles at Red Hat and Microsoft, with expertise spanning cloud, AI and enterprise transformation.
Chandi H. Dharmaratne contributes more than 25 years of leadership experience across the United States and Asia-Pacific, with expertise in organisational transformation, workforce strategy and AI-enabled HR modernisation. Vishaka Nanayakkara, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, brings expertise across e-governance, ICT for Development, digital education and national capacity building. Keith De Alwis brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of technology, programme delivery and digital health. His career includes serving as Group Chief Digital Officer at Hemas Holdings and co-founding Telenor Health, where he held CTO and COO responsibilities.
The Panel will provide independent strategic and technical guidance as CTC supports government-led priorities across DPI, digital agriculture, healthcare and broader public-service transformation. Its role will include reviewing approaches, identifying capability gaps, connecting relevant expertise and helping institutions prepare for sustainable adoption.
CTC will continue to work within existing national programmes and institutional mandates rather than establish parallel systems. Its focus is on strengthening coordination, addressing specific capability gaps and supporting implementation where additional technical or strategic capacity can accelerate agreed priorities.
Chandita Samaranayake, Chairman of Connect to Care, said: “Digital transformation succeeds when policy, technology, institutions, financing and people move together. Our role is to strengthen the work already underway, connect the right expertise to specific needs and support partners in moving from strategy to implementation. The Advisory Panel gives us access to independent global experience while complementing the practical capabilities of our programme teams and consultants.”
Central to CTC’s approach is the principle that digital transformation should ultimately be measured by what changes for citizens. Depending on the programme, this could include easier access to healthcare, more timely information for farmers, reduced travel and waiting times, lower transaction costs or improved access to government services.
CTC intends to incorporate measurable citizen outcomes, programme milestones and user feedback into the way relevant initiatives are assessed, helping institutions understand not only whether systems have been delivered, but whether they are creating practical value.
Alongside the Advisory Panel, Give Back creates a structured pathway for Sri Lankan professionals working internationally across DPI, AI, digital transformation and related disciplines to contribute their expertise to validated programmes in Sri Lanka.
The programme will match expertise and availability with defined capability gaps. Contributions may range from technical advice and programme reviews to mentoring, knowledge transfer and targeted implementation support. Engagements will be linked to clearly defined deliverables and intended outcomes.
“Give Back is about turning goodwill into practical contribution,” Samaranayake added. “Sri Lanka has exceptional professionals working across technology and transformation globally. By connecting that expertise with validated needs and accountable programmes, we can create a credible channel through which knowledge and experience contribute directly to national priorities.”
The Advisory Panel will operate on a voluntary, pro-bono basis, with members participating in their individual capacities. Over time, CTC aims to build the initiative into a broader platform for two-way knowledge exchange between Sri Lanka and other markets across the Global South, strengthening local capability while sharing lessons from Sri Lanka’s own transformation journey.
