Port City Colombo with OREL IT strengthens technology services backbone

From left: CHEC Port City Colombo Senior Manager Business Development Deshan Fonseka, Manager Business Development Dinuka Niwantha, General Manager Investment Promotion and Marketing Tian Zheng, Chief Marketing Officer Investment Promotion and Real Estate Li Xing, Managing Director Xiong Hongfeng, OREL IT Chief Executive Officer Dr. Upendra Pieris, Chief Sales and Solutions Officer Hisham Sally, Chief Business Officer Gayan David and Manager Legal Maheeka Ranaweera

Port City Colombo has strengthened its technology services ecosystem by signing a strategic partnership agreement with OREL IT. 

The partnership marks an important step in advancing the project’s digital capabilities and supports its vision of becoming a globally competitive financial and technology-driven services hub.

Under the agreement, OREL IT will provide customised technology solutions and services to support Port City Colombo and companies registered under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission.

“As we continue to shape Port City Colombo into a truly world-class international business destination, building a strong and dependable technology foundation is critical. Our partnership with OREL IT is a meaningful step in that journey. It strengthens the support ecosystem available to companies within the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and enhances our ability to offer high-quality digital and IT services to investors,” said CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt.) Ltd Managing Director Xiong Hongfeng. 

As the Preferred Ecosystem Partner, OREL IT will play a strategic role in delivering and supporting technology services across the Port City Colombo ecosystem. The company brings extensive expertise in data centre solutions, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and managed services. These capabilities will enhance the range of technology solutions available to businesses operating within the SEZ.

“Port City Colombo is a timely and strategic initiative that strengthens Sri Lanka’s position as a competitive destination for global business. With growing demand for tailored technology services, this partnership enables OREL IT to deliver enterprise-grade capabilities that support companies within the SEZ as they establish and scale,” said OREL IT Chief Executive Officer Dr. Upendra Pieris.

The partnership also outlines plans to accelerate the development of a state-of-the-art data centre within Port City Colombo. It further enables joint marketing and promotional initiatives, allowing both organisations to collaborate on outreach efforts locally and internationally.

The agreement was formally signed by Hongfeng and Dr. Pieris, marking the official commencement of the strategic partnership.

Port City Colombo spans 269 hectares of reclaimed land adjacent to Colombo’s central business district. It is designed to attract global investment and position Sri Lanka as a leading international business destination. The project continues to demonstrate strong commercial momentum, with eight land parcels already leased and a further five currently under active discussion. 

A total of 220 companies have applied to operate within the SEZ ecosystem, with 146 now licensed and operational. Notably, 27 of these have been formally approved as Businesses of Strategic Importance, qualifying for both fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

As the number of companies registering and commencing operations within Port City Colombo continues to grow, demand for high-quality office infrastructure and integrated support services is steadily increasing. Strengthening the technology backbone is therefore a critical component in ensuring that businesses operating within the SEZ have access to reliable, secure and future-ready digital solutions.