The Fintech Association of Sri Lanka (FASL) has unveiled a significant cross-border fintech partnership with the APIX Platform, based in Singapore, following the successful completion of the FinTech World Cup – Sri Lanka Regional Competition on March 31, 2026, held at Port City Colombo.

This competition brought together fintech startups, financial institutions, investors, and policymakers, highlighting Colombo’s increasing prominence in the global innovation landscape. The winner of this regional event will proceed to the global Grand Finale at the Dubai FinTech Summit 2026.

Organized by FASL in collaboration with Port City Colombo, the Sri Lanka Regional Competition is part of the international FinTech World Cup, which is organized by Trescon and supported by Ignyte. This initiative connects promising fintech companies with global markets, capital, and strategic partnerships.

Enhancing a Global Fintech Collaborative Framework

Alongside the event, FASL confirmed its partnership with the APIX Platform, establishing Colombo as a key player in an emerging fintech innovation corridor that links South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. This partnership aligns with the development of Port City Colombo as a multi-services Special Economic Zone (SEZ), emphasizing Colombo’s role as a neutral access point between major global financial centers.

Through APIX, Sri Lankan fintech companies will have access to structured cross-border innovation platforms, such as global TechSprint initiatives, institutional hackathons, and secure digital sandbox environments. These platforms will facilitate direct interactions with financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and multilateral organizations across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and other developing markets.

During the event, Rajkumar Kanagasingam, the Founding President of FASL and an Industry Fellow at the Global Fintech Institute in Singapore, emphasized the strategic importance of this initiative: “We are not merely hosting an event; we are creating a gateway from South Asia to the rest of the world. Fintech today transcends technology; it is about shaping the future of finance through globally connected ecosystems.”

A Global Platform with Institutional Support

The APIX Platform encompasses over 10,000 fintech firms and developers operating in more than 90 countries, fostering collaboration among financial institutions and regulators to expedite the discovery and implementation of solutions.

Initially established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, APIX was launched at the Singapore FinTech Festival in 2018. It has since transitioned into a commercial entity headquartered in Singapore, supported by the LemmaTree Group, which is backed by Temasek, Singapore’s state-owned investment firm, and Mastercard.

The APIX ecosystem includes collaborations with prominent global organizations such as MAS, SWIFT, the Reserve Bank of India, and initiatives under the G20 framework.

At the heart of the platform is a modular innovation infrastructure that includes a secure Digital Sandbox, a global API marketplace, and structured challenge and hackathon tools, which are essential components of modern financial ecosystems.

Highlighting Innovation and Global Participation

The FinTech World Cup – Sri Lanka Regional Competition featured a curated showcase of fintech innovations, spotlighting both global and local innovators, such as:

• RealX, an Indian platform specializing in fractional real estate investments and real-world asset tokenization.
• SUNTRUST Digital Innovations, which provides solutions for enterprise digital transformation.
• NanoSoft Global, offering digital banking platforms tailored for cooperative financial institutions.

The program was further enhanced by an international jury panel that assessed the participating startups, which included notable figures such as:

• Jochen Biedermann, Managing Director of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC).
• Takeshi Kito, Co-founder and CEO of GFTN Japan.
• Syed Musheer Ahmed, Founder and Managing Director of FinStep Asia.
• Nicholas Drury, Former Global Research Lead at IBM.
• Chia Hock Lai, Founding President of Singapore Fintech.

A significant moment in the program was a fireside chat titled “AI and the Transformation of Global Financial Services,” featuring Lakshitha Jayaweera, Vice President at Citi. This session delved into the role of artificial intelligence in financial institutions, covering aspects of innovation, risk management, and the changing landscape of global finance, providing valuable institutional insights.

Building Ecosystem Partnerships and Strategic Alliances

The event garnered support from a robust network of local and international partners, including the Sri Lanka Group of Tech London Advocates, the Sri Lanka Chapter of the Global Academy of Finance and Management (GAFM), and the Asian FinTech Academy (AFTA), which organizes the Asian Digital Finance Forum & Awards and acts as an Association Partner for the Dubai FinTech Summit.

Bai Xiaping, Assistant Managing Director of CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd., representing the Strategic Partner, commented, “Hosting the FinTech World Cup at Port City Colombo demonstrates our dedication to fostering a globally connected platform for innovation and investment. It has united talent, ideas, and partnerships that will shape the future of financial services while enhancing our role in facilitating a thriving ecosystem for global collaboration.”

Additionally, Wall Street Fintech AI Inc. participated as a Strategic Knowledge Partner, providing insights at the intersection of artificial intelligence, portfolio intelligence, and next-generation financial systems.

Positioning Colombo within a Global Fintech Corridor

These initiatives collectively position Colombo within a broader fintech corridor connecting Dubai, Singapore, and Colombo, facilitating innovation, capital flow, and market access across three dynamic regions.

By promoting cross-border collaboration and enhancing institutional connections, FASL is actively contributing to Colombo’s development as an emerging hub for fintech and financial services that serves South Asia and beyond.