Sri Lankan entrepreneurs shine at Forbes Under 30 Summit Asia 2025

Sri Lanka made its presence felt at Forbes Under 30 Summit Asia 2025, as four remarkable alumni from the island nation participated in the three-day event held in Thailand. 

Among the participants were Dushyantha and Gianee De Silva, the founders of SOZO Beverages, representing a new generation of Sri Lankan entrepreneurs reshaping industries with bold vision and purpose. 

The annual summit, now in its sixth edition, brought together hundreds of honorees from the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia lists (2016–2025) under the theme ‘Jumpstarting The Future’. With panel discussions, cultural showcases, networking opportunities and performances, the event celebrated innovation and leadership across Asia’s rapidly transforming business and creative landscapes.

Joining Dushyantha at the summit were three other Sri Lankan changemakers:

• Silver Aisle founder Yanika Amarasekera Siyaguna 
• Synapse AI Labs founder Nikin Matharaarachchi 
• Entrepreneur Dinara Punchihewa 

Each of them represented distinct industries—yet were united by a shared ethos: to build businesses that are both disruptive and socially conscious.

Dushyantha’s journey began in 2016, when he and his wife Gianee De Silva began experimenting with iced teas at home, bottling them for friends and family. That humble start, grounded in curiosity and creativity, led to the birth of SOZO Beverages—a company that redefined and continues to innovate Sri Lanka’s premium beverage category.

As co-founder and Director, Gianee has played a pivotal role in charting the course of SOZO over the past nine years where her influence is especially seen in SOZO’s focus on natural ingredients, vibrant packaging and a lifestyle-oriented brand story that resonates with conscious consumers.

Today, SOZO is widely recognised for its flavour-forward innovation, bold visual identity and commitment to quality. Its expanding portfolio includes craft juices, iced teas, sparkling canned beverages and syrups, all made with 100 percent natural ingredients and no preservatives.

Speaking on his experience at the summit, Dushyantha remarked, “It’s incredibly inspiring to be part of a community of thinkers and builders who are challenging the norm. Sharing this experience with fellow Sri Lankans made it even more meaningful — it’s a reminder that our small island holds big potential.”

To date, SOZO is widely recognised for its flavour-forward innovation, strong visual branding and commitment to quality. SOZO has grown to become one of the country’s most recognised modern beverage brands. Dushyantha’s inclusion in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Class of 2022 celebrated not just his entrepreneurial success but his impact on redefining the premium beverage space in Sri Lanka.

As the summit concluded, what remained was not only a sense of pride in individual accomplishments but also a renewed energy for cross-border collaboration, regional learning and future-forward impact.