As Sri Lanka’s knowledge economy grows, the spaces supporting it are evolving too. Since its inception in 2007, Orion City has steadily evolved into a fully integrated business park serving the nation’s IT and BPM sectors. With the recent launch of OC by Orion City in Colombo 03, the company is extending its model to a new part of the capital.
Featuring a LEED Gold Certified building, smart infrastructure, and comprehensive operational support, Orion City offers a blueprint for how workspaces can function as enablers of innovation. In this Q&A, Sudheera Bandara, Head of Marketing at Orion City, shares how the company is fostering an environment for innovators by focusing on community, sustainability, and modern infrastructure.
What’s the big vision behind Orion City’s expansion, from Colombo 09 to Colombo 03?
We launched Orion City in 2007 with a vision to create future-ready workspaces. Our expansion from Colombo 09 to Colombo 03 marks a significant milestone, bringing us closer to the heart of the city with improved accessibility and visibility. This new location is designed to foster collaboration and connectivity across businesses—from large corporations to startups—within a shared ecosystem. It features a range of amenities including multiple public-access meeting rooms, dedicated chill-out zones, a rooftop event space, and more. With this move, we aim to offer a more dynamic, centrally located environment that supports innovation, productivity, and community.
What recent developments are helping shape the next phase of Orion City?
We’ve made several exciting additions to Orion City to enhance sustainability and efficiency. Orion Tower 01 is now a LEED Gold-certified building, equipped with a smart building management system to optimise energy and resource use. We’ve also invested in a 700-kilowatt solar power plant, with plans underway to expand its capacity.
In addition, solar energy is now used to power daily irrigation across green areas at Orion City, Colombo 03. Recognising the rise of electric vehicles in Sri Lanka, we’ve installed high-speed EV chargers—open to both tenants and the public. These initiatives are part of our ongoing commitment to delivering smarter, more sustainable, and future-ready office spaces for modern businesses.
How do these features give your tenants an advantage?
These upgrades translate to lower operational costs, an enhanced brand image, and a more sustainable environment for our tenants. All Orion City spaces are now designed to support both hybrid and on-site work models, with a strong focus on improving work-life balance. A key addition is the Orion City Hotel—a fully operational business hotel featuring 30 rooms, a restaurant, and a range of guest services.
We’ve also introduced multiple food outlets, including Barista Coffee and Pizza Hut, giving tenants access to a diverse range of dining options. A Cargills Express Mini Mart is also available for daily essentials. Additionally, we are expanding breakout areas to support relaxation and informal collaboration. With these improvements, our goal is to create a more stress-free, dynamic, and sustainable workspace experience for all our tenants.
How do you keep Orion City’s community dynamic and innovative?
At Orion City, we don’t just provide office spaces and buildings. It’s also about the people and the community within. We host a variety of events for our tenants, ranging from entertainment acts to team-building activities. These efforts help boost engagement within their teams and with other tenants. By creating these shared experiences, we believe we can help companies attract talent and build stronger teams.
We also maintain an eventful calendar throughout the year to foster a more collaborative and innovative atmosphere. Just as importantly, at Orion City, we work closely with our tenants, listening to them regularly and acting on their feedback. A good example is the installation of EV chargers. After noticing an increase in electric vehicles, we installed the charging stations and opened them to the public. Since then, we’ve received very positive feedback.
What advice do you have for Sri Lankan businesses that want to innovate?
Since I’ve been a member of Orion City, I’ve met several entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders. Based on the knowledge I’ve gathered from them, my advice is simple: start small and, more importantly, start now. Innovation doesn’t always require advanced technology or a lot of money. What you do need is a great team. The ecosystem in Sri Lanka has been set up with various organisations that can help with things like funding, mentorship, and spaces. Crucially, innovators need to understand that sustainability isn’t just good for business, it’s essential for building a better world.