On a vibrant evening at Hatch, the energy in the air was electric. The Cloud Native AI Meetup, organized by Kubernetes Sri Lanka, brought together developers, innovators, and tech enthusiasts from across the country, all eager to explore the intersections of Cloud Native technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This wasn’t just another meetup; it was a power-packed learning experience that combined deep technical insights, inspiring personal stories, and a strong sense of community.
💡 Redefining AI Infrastructure with Networking – Talk by Mr. Marino Wijay
The first session of the evening was led by Mr. Marino Wijay, Staff Solutions Architect at Kong Inc., CNCF Ambassador, and Founder of EmpathyOps.
His talk, titled “The Network’s Effect on AI, K8s, and Everything in Between: A Retrospective,” offered a powerful perspective on how networking underpins the entire AI revolution.
While AI often captures headlines for its models, algorithms, and breakthroughs, Marino reminded us that behind every intelligent system lies a robust, efficient, and well-architected network.
He explored how Kubernetes (K8s) plays a crucial role in orchestrating distributed workloads, especially in AI-driven systems where scalability, latency, and data flow become mission-critical. His ability to connect the dots between cloud infrastructure and intelligent applications reshaped how I view AI deployment and networking design.
As someone currently working on an AI automation project, I walked away with new ideas on optimizing communication between microservices and how to better handle latency when working with AI inference systems.
🤖 Agents as a Service: The Next Evolution – Talk by Mr. Keshan Sodimana
The next session, delivered by Mr. Keshan Sodimana, Founder of GDG Sri Lanka, Associate Architect at LSEG, and Google Developer Expert for Cloud & AI, was nothing short of eye-opening.
His topic, “Agents as a Service: Hype or the Next Big Shift?”, explored the rapidly evolving concept of AI agents — systems that can reason, act, and interact autonomously to perform complex tasks.
Keshan discussed how these agents are redefining workflows, enabling dynamic decision-making, and transforming industries beyond traditional automation. The conversation around LLMs (Large Language Models), autonomous reasoning, and multi-agent orchestration was incredibly insightful for anyone interested in AI’s future.
After the session, I had the opportunity to personally speak with him — a conversation that sparked fresh ideas for my upcoming AI Automation project. I left that chat with a renewed sense of purpose, realizing how AI agents could elevate the usability and intelligence of my system.
🎤 Community Voices and Shared Inspiration
Adding to the momentum of the evening, Kaveesha Gimhana took the stage to share his experience from KubeCon + CloudNativeCon India 2025.
His talk was a perfect blend of technical insight and personal inspiration, reminding everyone that the journey into cloud-native technologies is not just about coding — it’s about connecting, learning, and contributing to a global ecosystem.
Kaveesha’s story was filled with energy and authenticity, showing how international experiences can inspire local innovation. It encouraged many of us to look beyond our comfort zones and actively engage with the global tech community.
🙏 Gratitude to the Organizers and Sponsors
None of this would have been possible without the incredible efforts of the Kubernetes Sri Lanka team — especially Kemila De Silva and Chamod Perera, who have been tirelessly empowering the local Cloud Native community.
Their commitment to fostering a platform where professionals and students can learn, share, and grow together is truly inspiring.
And a heartfelt thanks to EmpathyOps for sponsoring the event and for their incredible support to the community — including the KCD Sri Lanka 2025 Ticket Giveaway.
🎉 Becoming a KCD Sri Lanka 2025 Ticket Winner!
To my absolute surprise and excitement, I was selected as one of the lucky winners of the KCD Sri Lanka 2025 ticket giveaway!
This means I’ll be attending Kubernetes Community Days (KCD) Sri Lanka 2025, one of the biggest cloud-native events of the year — a space where developers, architects, and innovators come together to dive deep into the latest technologies shaping the future of cloud computing.
This opportunity is more than just a ticket — it’s a gateway to learning, collaboration, and growth. I’m looking forward to meeting inspiring technologists, gaining new insights, and bringing back innovative ideas to my own AI and web projects.
🚀 Reflections and Takeaways
This meetup wasn’t just an event; it was an experience that expanded my perspective.
Here are my key takeaways:
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Networking is the backbone of AI scalability — understanding infrastructure is as important as developing models.
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AI agents are redefining automation, and the next big wave will be about systems that can think, reason, and act independently.
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Community is everything — real growth happens when we learn and build together.
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Curiosity drives innovation — every conversation, every question, and every new connection contributes to the journey.
I left the event feeling motivated, inspired, and deeply connected to Sri Lanka’s thriving Cloud Native and AI community.
🌐 Looking Ahead
With the insights I gained, I’m now even more determined to push forward with my AI automation project, integrating advanced reasoning and automation into real-world systems.
Events like these prove the power of collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and community spirit in shaping the next generation of tech innovators.