Hans Wijayasuriya has resigned from his position as executive director of Axiata Group and CEO of its telecom business to spearhead a digital initiative for Sri Lanka, concluding a 30-year association with the company in various roles.
He is set to leave Axiata on January 15, 2025, after accepting an invitation from the Sri Lankan government to become chief adviser to the President on the digital economy. In the interim, Wijayasuriya will continue fulfilling his responsibilities at Axiata while beginning his work for the nation.
Sri Lanka is one of several Asia-Pacific countries overseen by Wijayasuriya for Axiata, which recently completed the acquisition of Bharti Airtel’s local unit in June. Wijayasuriya briefly served as co-CEO at Axiata before assuming his current role in early 2023.
Axiata CEO Vivek Sood expressed that Wijayasuriya’s selection by Sri Lanka is “a great honour and source of pride.” He noted, “His extensive expertise in telecommunications, technology transformation, and digitization will bring tremendous value to Sri Lanka.”
Sood also highlighted that Wijayasuriya was “instrumental” in Axiata’s transition into a technology-focused company. In response, Wijayasuriya credited Axiata’s team as the source of “every learning I possess,” commending the operator’s achievements in digitalization and infrastructure development over the past decade.
