PMD: President Ranil Wickremesinghe has initiated the appointment of a board of directors for the Sri Lanka Personal Data Protection Authority, established with the primary objective of safeguarding personal data within the nation.

In a significant milestone for data protection in South Asia, Sri Lanka’s Personal Data Protection Act No. 9 of 2022 (‘PDPA’) has been making strides toward full implementation. The act, certified by the Speaker on March 19, 2022, aims to safeguard personal data held by various entities, including government bodies, banks, telecom operators and hospitals.

This legislation, the first of its kind in South Asia, was developed through a transparent process, with draft versions made available for public comment since June 2019. The PDPA is set to be implemented in phases, with Part V brought into operation through a gazette notification on July 21, 2023. This crucial step allowed the government to appoint the Board of Directors, comprising seven individuals with expertise in engineering, accounting/finance, law and regulatory affairs.

Leading the Board of Directors is Arjuna Herath, a Senior Chartered Accountant and former Consulting Leader of Ernst & Young in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Other notable members include Attorney-at-Law and Former State Counsel Nisith Abeysooriya, President’s Counsel Saumya Amarasekera, Digital Law Expert & Chair of the PDPA drafting Committee Jayantha Fernando, Additional Secretary to the President Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardana, ISO Lead Auditor and Technology Management specialist Bimsara Seneviratne and Electronics Engineer and Digital Strategy specialist Shehan Wijetilaka.

The PDPA assumes paramount importance in light of the government and private sector’s digital strategies, along with global privacy law developments. It is expected to attract investment and promote the digital economy, aligning with the National Digital Strategy and the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SL-UDI) project.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted the need for data protection in his November 2022 Budget Speech, promising the establishment of the Data Protection Authority in 2023. This independent regulator will collaborate with various sectoral regulators to ensure the proper governance of personal data.

Currently, the Board of Directors is in the deliberation and planning phase for the creation of the Data Protection Authority. The first step involves recommending the operation of Part VIII (Fund of the Authority) and Part IX of the Act to design the organizational framework, recruitment procedures and roles of key officers, including the Director General.

To meet the Act’s enforcement deadline of March 19, 2025, the Authority plans to formulate policy frameworks and regulations. It will hold public consultations and engage with advisory committees representing key sectors of the economy and other stakeholders to ensure comprehensive and effective data protection measures.

The Authority is set to commence public consultations and awareness campaigns once it has the necessary capacity, a process expected to take several months. Sri Lanka is on its way to establishing a robust framework for personal data protection in the digital age, making strides toward safeguarding citizens’ privacy and promoting trust in the digital ecosystem.

Colombo (LNW): Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya today (09) announced the government’s decision to remove all import bans effective from today, with the exception of restrictions on vehicle imports.

These stringent import measures were initially implemented in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic ramifications.

While the government of Sri Lanka started to progressively relax these restrictions on various goods since November 2022, the ban on vehicle imports remains in place.

Colombo (LNW): During a Cabinet briefing, President Ranil Wickremesinghe discussed the recent unrest in Israel and its potential impact on Sri Lankans and Israelis living in both nations.

Stressing the importance of taking swift measures to guarantee the safety of Sri Lankans employed in Israel, the President instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to confirm their safety.

Wickremesinghe advocated for aiding Israelis in Sri Lanka, whether tourists or workers, in their return to Israel, and emphasised that the security for Israelis in Sri Lanka must be ensured.

While the President reiterated Sri Lanka’s sustained endorsement of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, he denounced the recent Hamas offensive on Israel. He maintained that even though Sri Lanka had previously criticised Israel’s actions, such assaults were indefensible.

Urging an immediate end to the hostilities, President Wickremesinghe aligned with the African Union’s stance and highlighted the global repercussions of the conflict on oil prices.

He expressed concerns that the ongoing strife could result in sustained high fuel costs, negatively impacting developing nations, including Sri Lanka.

Overall, the President’s remarks reflect Sri Lanka’s dedication to regional peace and its commitment to safeguarding its residents and foreign nationals during such crises.

Colombo (LNW): Set to begin operations on October 10, a high-speed ferry service will connect Sri Lanka and India.

This ferry will run from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, India, to the Kankesanthurai port in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.

As per reports from Indian media last month, a passenger terminal was under construction at the Nagapattinam Port to be finalised before the ferry’s inaugural run.

The ferry route will span 60 nautical miles and is expected to carry a minimum of 150 passengers, with the transit time estimated at around two hours.

The service will be launched by the Shipping Corporation of India and will be overseen by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).