New industry-led platform to support investment, infrastructure sharing and Sri Lanka’s digital future

Recognizing that digital infrastructure is fundamental to economic growth, investment and national competitiveness, three Sri Lankan licensed telecommunications infrastructure service providers today launched the Sri Lanka Digital Infrastructure Forum (SLDIF), the country's first industry platform established to advance telecommunications infrastructure development and support the nation's digital future.

The Forum brings together telecommunications infrastructure services licensed under Section 17B of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act. Its founding members are EDOTCO Services Lanka (Private) Limited, SGH TowerCo (Pvt) Ltd, and Tantri Trailers (Pvt) Ltd.

As Sri Lanka continues to accelerate digitalization across government, businesses and communities, reliable telecommunications infrastructure has become an increasingly important enabler of economic growth, investment, innovation and social inclusion. SLDIF has been established as a non-profit, non-political industry body to support the development of a resilient, sustainable and future-ready digital infrastructure ecosystem capable of meeting the country's growing connectivity needs.

The Forum will serve as a unified industry platform to engage constructively with the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), Government ministries, local authorities, policymakers and other stakeholders on matters relating to telecommunications infrastructure planning, deployment and policy development.

SLDIF will champion greater infrastructure sharing, promote safe and sustainable deployment practices, encourage industry collaboration, and help address common regulatory, environmental and operational challenges affecting telecommunications infrastructure development. By fostering closer cooperation across the ecosystem, the Forum aims to support faster network expansion, improve investment efficiency, extend connectivity to underserved communities and contribute towards Sri Lanka's broader digital economy aspirations.

Commenting on the formation of SLDIF, Gayan Koralage, Country Managing Director of EDOTCO Services Lanka (Private) Limited, said:

“Around the world, countries that have successfully accelerated digital transformation have done so through strong collaboration between industry, regulators and government. Telecommunications infrastructure is no longer just about towers. It is the digital backbone that enables mobile connectivity, cloud services, artificial intelligence, digital government and future economic growth. As a regional telecommunications infrastructure company, EDOTCO brings this experience to Sri Lanka, and through SLDIF, we hope to contribute towards a more coordinated and future-ready infrastructure ecosystem.”

R.M. Manivannan, Chairman of SGH TowerCo (Pvt) Ltd, said:

“The establishment of SLDIF creates an important platform for industry players to speak with one voice on matters affecting telecommunications infrastructure development. By strengthening dialogue and collaboration with regulators and policymakers, we can collectively help create an environment that supports sustainable investment, operational efficiency and improved connectivity for all Sri Lankans.”

Athula Haputantri, Managing Director of Tantri Trailers (Pvt) Ltd, said:

“Improving connectivity in underserved and hard-to-reach areas requires more than infrastructure deployment alone. It requires close coordination between industry players, authorities, and communities to ensure that tower infrastructure can be delivered safely, responsibly, and where it is needed most. Through SLDIF, we look forward to supporting practical solutions that help extend digital access to rural communities and emerging economic areas across Sri Lanka.”

The establishment of SLDIF reflects the shared commitment of Sri Lanka's telecommunications infrastructure providers to support the country's long-term digital development through responsible industry leadership, constructive policy engagement and sustainable infrastructure investment.

Moving forward, the Forum will facilitate industry dialogue, support evidence-based policy discussions and encourage greater cooperation among stakeholders to help build a more connected, inclusive and digitally empowered Sri Lanka.

PHOTO CAPTION: Left to Right: Mr. Gayan Koralage, Country Managing Director - EDOTCO Services Lanka (Private) Limited; Mr. Athula Haputantri, Managing Director – Tantri Trailers (Pvt) Ltd ; and Mr. Arshad Anver, Group Director – SGH Towerco (Pvt) Ltd, following the signing of the Constitution and Terms of Reference establishing the Sri Lanka Digital Infrastructure Forum (SLDIF) — a landmark initiative to strengthen collaboration among leading infrastructure providers and advance Sri Lanka’s digital infrastructure ecosystem.