Business

A significant meeting took place today (10) at the Old Parliament Building in Colombo to discuss connecting key government institutions to the National Cyber Security Operations Centre (NCSOC). This event was organized by Sri Lanka CERT and the Ministry of Digital Economy and is seen as an important step in enhancing the country's cyber security framework, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD). The discussions highlighted that in today's world, cyber security is not just a technical issue but a crucial national matter that impacts security, economic stability, and public trust. The focus was on linking all government institutions that manage critical information infrastructure to the NCSOC. The necessary policy decisions for this initiative have already been approved by the Cabinet, and the second phase of the program, which will connect other government institutions to the cyber security centre, is set to be completed by the end of this year. Priority will be given to essential state institutions, which will also be subject to audits by the National Audit Office. The meeting also stressed the need for effective awareness and training programs on digital security for public sector officials. As Sri Lanka moves towards a digital economy, it is vital that cyber resilience is viewed as a key part of governance and efficient public service, PMD noted. This new system is expected to help prevent and manage disruptions to essential services caused by cyber threats, including government website defacements, ransomware attacks, and data breaches.