President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that in order to advance the country economically, it is essential to ensure efficiency and transparency across all sectors. He further noted that the current Government’s digitalisation programme is designed to elevate Sri Lanka not only economically but also socially.
The President made these remarks while participating in the ceremony held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo, to launch the National Cyber Protection Strategy (2025–2029) and to open the National Cyber Security Operations Centre (NCSOC) yesterday (19).
The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (Sri Lanka CERT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy and with technical support from the World Bank, has introduced the National Cyber Protection Strategy 2025–2029. This initiative aims to build a secure, reliable, and inclusive digital ecosystem as part of Sri Lanka’s digital economic transformation programme.
The strategy includes:
- Establishing the legal and administrative framework for cyber security.
- Developing a skilled cyber security workforce.
- Raising public awareness, including school-level education.
- Improving state institutional preparedness.
- Strengthening Sri Lanka CERT’s capacity.
- Protecting critical digital infrastructure.
- Encouraging multi-stakeholder collaboration for a safer cyberspace.
The National Cyber Security Operations Centre, inaugurated at the event, will provide 24-hour monitoring of 37 key institutions—including Immigration, Motor Traffic, and Inland Revenue—to detect and counter potential cyber-attacks. It will also issue real-time alerts, safeguard government systems, and support both public and private sectors to ensure resilience and reliability in digital operations.
President Dissanayake, who also serves as the Minister of Digital Economy, stressed that countries advancing quickly in science and technology secure rapid progress, while those failing to adapt fall behind. He underscored that the new cyber security framework is not just an office or facility but a crucial foundation for Sri Lanka’s digital economic future.
He further emphasized that digitalisation must be the central strategy of the economy, ensuring transparency in state functions, unlocking new business opportunities, and improving citizens’ quality of life. The President also pointed out that while concerns exist about technology eroding human emotions, the real task is to build resilient networks using technology itself to protect society from risks.
Concluding his remarks, the President extended his appreciation to all scholars and professionals who contributed to developing the strategy and the new centre, noting that this marks the beginning of a transformative chapter in Sri Lanka’s journey toward a digital economy.
