SPiCE South Asia 2026 Kicks Off Tonight: Industry Recognition and Excellence Converge in Sri Lanka

The 7th Annual Strategic Platform for iGaming Conference & Exhibition (SPiCE South Asia 2026) officially opens today at the Shangri-La Colombo, welcoming policymakers, operators, investors, and technology leaders from across the region and beyond.

Taking place from 23 – 26 March 2026 in a setting that blends contemporary business with understated coastal luxury, the summit sets the stage for three days of focused discussions, intentional networking, and meaningful collaboration, centred around the theme “Responsible Growth. Regional Progress.”
 

The summit is set to leave a lasting impression, bringing together insight, connection, and opportunity in one place.

What’s Happening at SPiCE South Asia 2026

Day One – Monday, 23 March

• Registration and drinks upon arrival
  
  

• SP’iCE’ Breaker Welcoming Evening & SPiCE South Asia Awards Ceremony, bringing together attendees for an evening of networking, celebration, and industry recognition

Day Two – Tuesday, 24 March

• Conference and exhibition programme commences with key discussions and insights
  
  

• Dedicated networking opportunities throughout the day
  
  

• SPiCE Harmony (dinner by invitation), offering an elegant setting for continued engagement
  
  

Day Three – Wednesday, 25 March

• Full day of conference and exhibition sessions exploring key industry topics
  
  

• Networking lunch and continued opportunities for engagement
  
  

• The day will conclude with a celebratory toast among peers and partners, followed by the SPiCE It Up Poker Tournament, bringing the day to an engaging and vibrant close.
  
  

Day Four – Thursday, 26 March

• SPiCE Networking Excursion (included for 4-day pass holders), offering a guided exploration of the Madu River’s mangrove ecosystem and cultural landmarks, where connections will continue to evolve naturally.

Full Speaker Lineup

SPiCE South Asia 2026 features a diverse lineup of industry leaders, policymakers, and subject-matter experts, including:

• Akili Polee, CEO, The Revenue Avenue

• Ashish Chandra, Legal Head, Junglee Games

• Ashwini Natesan, TMT Law Consultant, Julius & Creasy

• Ayoma Wickramaarachchi, Deputy General Manager, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC

• Boshan Dayaratne, Committee Chair Digital Economy, International Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka

• Chanaki Mallikarachchi, Director (Information & Communication Technology, Ministry of Digital Economy

• Chanakya Jayadeva, Intellectual Property Entertainment & Media Lawyer, Attorney-at-Law

• Danny Too, VP – Sales, MediaPro

• Dr. Dharshana Weerakoon, Chairman, Global Cooperation (Private) Limited

• Harmen Brenninkmeijer, Executive Chairman, NYCE International

• Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman, Committee on Public Finance, Parliament of Sri Lanka

• J. Pradeep Kumar, Attorney, Kasturi Associates, Advocates

• Jared Valarao, Managing Director, Lakandula Holdings

• Kapil Rathee, Co-Founder & CEO, Junglee Games

• Kate McCormick, Founder & CEO, KMC Consultancy Limited

• Kishore D. Reddy, Managing Director, Platinum Realty Investments

• M. Raghuraman, President, Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry

• Mahesh Madan Bhat, Founder, MMB Legal

• Manmohan Kohli, Business Development Manager, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI)

• Navneeth Srinivas, Director, LogNormal Analytics

• Neha Ahlawat, Head of Business Development, Jumping Play Studio

• Prasad Narasimha, CEO & Director, Sherlock’s Hospitality

• Priya Ahlawat, Founder, Jumping Play Studio

• Rushda Niyas, Managing Director, JAAR Law 

• Samadhi Chathuranga Rathnayake, Lecturer (Department of Computer Science), Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology

• Sanduni Rathnayake, Director of Policy Advocacy and Community Engagement, International Alliance for Sustainable Development & Livelihood Enhancement

• Shahinaz Matheen, Digital Marketing Executive, Golden Island Hospitality (Pvt) Ltd.

• Shaun McCamley, Founder, Chairman, GameWorkz

• Sid Gupta, Co-Founder and CMO, SilverAce Media

• Snehal Bhatt, CEO & iGaming Consultant, KodeDice

• Tommy Gibbons, COO, Casino Marina

• Viraj Amarasena, VP – Business Development, Emojot

An Evening of Prestige and Achievement

The SPiCE South Asia 2026 Eventus Awards will bring together the industry’s top professionals to recognise excellence across key sectors. Taking place as part of the opening evening, the ceremony will honour outstanding achievement, innovation, and contribution to the growth of the regional digital and entertainment ecosystem.

This year’s shortlisted nominees include:

• Operator of the Year: Bally’s Casino Colombo, Bellagio Colombo, Betss Sporting Star, Casino Marina Colombo, City of Dreams Sri Lanka, Majestic Pride Lanka
  
  

• Technology Provider of the Year: BetConstruct, Blask, DATA.BET, GAIA Information Technology, Inplay Matrix, Pronet Gaming
  
  

• Innovation of the Year: Choice Gaming, CreedRoomz, Imagine Live, DSTGAMING, QTech Games, Netwallet
  
  

• Legal Adviser of the Year: Ashish Chandra (Junglee Games), Mahesh Madan Bhat (MMB Legal), Rushda Niyas (JAAR Law), Srinivas Kotni (Lexport), Shyanaka Jayasena (Attorney-at-Law, Supreme Court of Sri Lanka)
  
  

• Affiliate Platform of the Year: 1win Partners, Affilka by SOFTSWISS, Dhanu Global Affiliate Agency, MelBet Affiliates, Royal Partners, Wynta
  
  

• Best B2B Digital Platform: BetConstruct, Digitain, Inplay Matrix, K36, QTech Games, SA Gaming
  
  

• Developer of the Year: Choice Gaming, DSTGAMING, SA Gaming, SimplePlay, Source Code Lab, Zillion Games
  
  

• Best Platform Provider: BetConstruct AI, BETCORE, DSTGAMING, Pronet Gaming, QTech Games, SOFTSWISS
  
  

• SPiCE-IEST Expo Stand of the Year and Speaker of the Year (winners announced on Day 3)
  
  

The awards will serve as a fitting celebration of industry leadership, bringing the evening to a close as peers come together to recognise and honour the achievements shaping the future of the sector.

Last Chance to Join SPiCE South Asia 2026

With the event now underway, there is still time to be part of South Asia’s leading gaming and digital entertainment gathering.

Join high-level executives in Colombo to gain market insights, explore partnerships, and contribute to the conversations shaping the future of gaming in the region.

Register now:
https://www.spiceseries.com/ssa