World Bank seeks top-tier consulting firm to craft SL’s ambitious IT roadmap

The World Bank has initiated a global search for a top-tier consulting firm to chart the future of Sri Lanka’s burgeoning information technology sector. The move is a significant step towards a national goal of nearly quadrupling the industry’s annual revenue from its current US$ 1.3 billion to an ambitious US$ 5 billion by 2030.

In an Expression of Interest (EOI) published this week, the World Bank announced its intention to finance a ‘Sri Lanka IT Industry Assessment and Strategic Roadmap.’

The project aims to create a comprehensive, data-driven plan to accelerate growth, tackle existing challenges, and position the island nation as a significant player in the global digital economy.

The selected firm will be tasked with conducting a deep-dive analysis of the country’s IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) landscape. This includes assessing digital skills, innovation capabilities, and market opportunities in high-growth areas like artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

According to the procurement notice: “Achieving this target requires a comprehensive assessment of the current state of the IT industry, identification of growth opportunities, and actionable recommendations to address challenges and unlock its full potential.”

This initiative signals strong international support for the economic vision laid out by the Sri Lankan government and local industry bodies. The resulting roadmap is expected to be the cornerstone of policy-making and investment promotion for the sector over the next decade.

The World Bank has invited eligible firms with a global reputation in industry assessment and strategic analysis to submit their interest electronically through its WBGeProcure portal.  Following the EOI, a shortlist of qualified firms will be invited to the formal Request for Proposal (RFP) phase to present their detailed approaches. 

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