From Fourth Mobile Operator to Digital Powerhouse: The Dialog Story and Hans Wijayasuriya’s Journey

Sri Lanka’s telecommunications landscape has changed dramatically since the 1990s, and Dialog’s journey has been closely linked to that transformation. What began as a fourth mobile operator evolved into a major connectivity and digital services company, while Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya became one of the key figures in that evolution.

MTN Networks was incorporated in 1993 and launched commercial operations under the Dialog GSM brand in 1995. At a time when mobile communications were still relatively new in Sri Lanka, Dialog entered the market with a digital GSM network and sought to expand access to mobile technology.

In 1997, at the age of 29, Wijayasuriya became CEO of Dialog. His leadership coincided with a period of rapid technological change, as mobile services expanded from voice communication into data, broadband and a wider range of digital services.

Over the years, Dialog introduced successive generations of mobile technology, including 3G and 4G LTE, while expanding into broadband, television, enterprise solutions and digital financial services. The company says it became the first South Asian service provider to commercially launch 4G LTE.

The journey also included challenging periods. During 2007 and 2008, Dialog faced intense price competition alongside difficult economic and operating conditions. The experience became an important chapter in the company's development and in Wijayasuriya's leadership journey.

After almost two decades as Dialog's Group CEO, Wijayasuriya stepped down from the position in 2016, with Supun Weerasinghe succeeding him as Group CEO in January 2017. Wijayasuriya subsequently took on regional responsibilities within Axiata, eventually serving as CEO of its Telecommunications Business and Group Executive Director.

Dialog continued expanding its business and customer base. According to its 2025 results, Dialog Axiata PLC recorded company revenue of Rs. 135.8 billion for the year, while its mobile subscriber base reached 19.6 million.

Wijayasuriya's contribution to the telecommunications industry was also recognised internationally. In 2024, he received the GSMA Chairman's Award for his contribution to the global mobile industry.

In January 2025, he stepped down from his executive roles at Axiata after accepting an invitation from the Sri Lankan Government to lead the country's digital transformation agenda as Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy.

He currently serves as Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy and Chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), where his work includes supporting Sri Lanka's broader digital transformation agenda.

The story of Dialog and Hans Wijayasuriya therefore extends beyond the development of a telecommunications company. It traces the evolution of Sri Lanka's connectivity landscape—from early mobile communication to broadband, digital services and a wider digital economy—and the career of an executive whose work has spanned both the commercial and national technology sectors.