COLOMBO : A special discussion on the implementing the Cabinet decision to connect critical government institutions to the National Cyber Security Operations Centre (NCSOC) was held on 10 February 2026 at the Old Parliament Building in Colombo. Organized jointly by Sri Lanka CERT and the Ministry of Digital Economy, this session can be identified as a decisive step toward strengthening the country’s national cyber security framework.
It was emphasized during the discussion that cyber security in the modern world is no longer merely a technical concern, but a matter of national importance that directly impacts national security, economic stability, and public trust.
Special attention was given to connecting all government institutions that operate critical information infrastructure to the National Cyber Security Operations Centre. Policy-level decisions required for this initiative have already been approved through Cabinet decisions, and the second phase, connecting remaining government institutions to the cyber security centre, is scheduled to be implemented by the end of this year. Priority will be given to critical state institutions, which are also planned to be audited through the National Audit Office.
In addition, the importance of properly implementing awareness and training programmes on digital security for all public sector officials was highlighted during the session.
It was further stated that as Sri Lanka moves towards a digital economy, cyber resilience must be considered a fundamental component of governance and public service delivery. The new mechanism is expected to help prevent and manage disruptions to essential services in the face of cyber threats such as defacement of government websites, ransomware attacks, and data breaches. Through the National Cyber Security Operations Centre, government institutions will gain access to real-time threat monitoring, early warning systems, and coordinated incident response capabilities. As such, this initiative was described not merely as a compliance exercise, but as an investment in institutional credibility and resilience.
The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eng. Eranga Weeraratne; Acting Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy, Waruna Sri Dhanapala; officials from the Presidential Secretariat; Chairman of Sri Lanka CERT, Tilak Pathirage; Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka CERT, Dr. Kanishka Karunasekera; along with several other officials. A number of heads and senior officials from government institutions identified as operating critical information infrastructure also participated in the discussion.
