Discussion held on linking key state institutions to National Cyber Security Centre

A special discussion on implementing the Cabinet decision to connect critical government institutions to the National Cyber Security Operations Centre (NCSOC) was held on February 10, 2026, at the Old Parliament Building in Colombo.

The discussion was jointly organised by Sri Lanka CERT and the Ministry of Digital Economy and was identified as a significant step towards strengthening Sri Lanka’s national cyber security framework.

During the session, it was highlighted that cyber security is no longer merely a technical matter, but an issue of national importance with direct implications for national security, economic stability and public trust.

Particular focus was placed on connecting all government institutions operating critical information infrastructure to the National Cyber Security Operations Centre. It was noted that the necessary policy-level decisions for this initiative have already been approved by the Cabinet. The second phase of the programme, which involves linking the remaining government institutions to the cyber security centre, is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. Priority will be given to critical state institutions, which are also expected to undergo audits conducted by the National Audit Office.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of properly implementing awareness and training programmes on digital security for all public sector officials.

Officials further said that as Sri Lanka advances towards a digital economy, cyber resilience must be treated as a fundamental element of governance and public service delivery. The proposed mechanism is expected to support the prevention and management of disruptions to essential services arising from cyber threats such as government website defacement, 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. Accordingly, the initiative was described not merely as a compliance requirement, but as an investment in institutional credibility and resilience.

The discussion was attended by 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. Heads and senior officials from government institutions identified as operating critical information infrastructure were also present.