Malta Day celebrated at SiGMA South Asia with calls for deeper cooperation and regulated gaming

A Malta Day reception held during SiGMA South Asia 2025 brought together diplomats, government officials and industry leaders in Colombo this week, marking Malta’s upcoming Republic Day and underscoring the growing ties between the two island nations through gaming, technology and investment.

The gathering took place at Cinnamon Life’s City of Dreams resort, where the SiGMA expo is being hosted. Guests began with a guided walkthrough of the exhibition hall before moving to The Studio, an events space overlooking the main floor. SiGMA Founder Eman Pulis, CEO Emily Micallef and CFO Clive Terribile led the tour, welcoming around 60 invitees from diplomatic missions, public institutions and the private sector.

The reception opened with the national anthems of Sri Lanka and Malta, followed by remarks from Maltese High Commissioner H.E. Reuben Gauci. He highlighted business-driven cooperation as an essential engine of international partnerships and described SiGMA’s presence in Colombo as an example of how industry can support the development of regulated markets.

“It is my firm belief that the best relations between countries are built by business and investment,” he said. “Here we are with a Maltese company – SiGMA – one of our national treasures, leaving a strong footprint in Colombo by providing a platform for the expansion of the iGaming industry in a way that is regulated, transparent and free from abuse.”

Mr Gauci emphasised the significance of iGaming to Malta’s economy. “Thanks to companies like SiGMA, iGaming has become a pillar of the Maltese economy, today making up 13.6 per cent of our GDP. I sincerely hope that through investment such as this, Sri Lanka can experience similar growth,” he added. “What is business, if not a way to make people’s lives better?”

Remarks on behalf of Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara were delivered by Pramuditha Manusinghe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He pointed to the shared values that shape Sri Lanka–Malta relations and the potential for closer cooperation.

“Sri Lanka looks forward to continuing our mutual collaboration on global issues – from sustainable development and environmental protection to wellbeing and security as islands connected by oceans,” Manusinghe said. “Our futures are shared not only by geography, but by responsibility.”

Closing the event, Mr Pulis reiterated SiGMA’s long-standing commitment to advancing regulated gaming frameworks. Over the past 11 years, the company has worked across multiple jurisdictions, he said, to encourage governments to adopt systems that protect players and support industry growth.

“Slowly, governments worldwide are realising that the only way forward is regulation. Failing to regulate leaves citizens with no option but to play on unregulated websites,” he noted, citing Malta’s experience where “13 per cent of the country’s GDP is thanks to the iGaming industry.”

Mr Pulis pointed to countries such as Malta, Brazil, the UAE and Singapore as successful examples of regulated markets, adding that others can follow suit. He also highlighted the SiGMA Foundation’s community projects across various regions and reflected on the broader meaning of success. “If we, through the Foundation, can help lift a million people above the poverty line—if we can positively impact a million lives - then I believe we will have truly become millionaires.”

The event closed with a renewed sense of cooperation between Malta and Sri Lanka, grounded in shared economic ambitions and a mutual interest in strengthening regulated gaming.