The 16th National Cyber Security Conference of Sri Lanka was successfully held on 12 November 2025 at the Water’s Edge, Battaramulla, marking another significant milestone in the country’s journey toward becoming a trusted and cyber resilient nation. With the theme “Building a Trusted and Cyber Resilient Nation”, the event attracted more than 400 participants, bringing together government authorities, ICT professionals, industry leaders, academia, technology experts, and global cyber security stakeholders.
The event was graced by His Excellency Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, who participated as the Chief Guest and acknowledged the increasing importance of cybersecurity in shaping the nation’s digital transformation and economic stability.
The conference was jointly organized by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Sri Lanka CERT, continuing its legacy as one of the nation’s flagship cybersecurity platforms for policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and national capacity development.
Key Sessions and Leadership Addresses
The event began with opening remarks from Mr. Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Acting Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy, who emphasized the need for strong institutional collaboration and robust policy frameworks to protect national interests in an era of intensifying cyber threats.
This was followed by a Special Address from Dr. Kanishka Karunasena, Acting CEO of Sri Lanka CERT, who provided an in-depth overview of the implementation roadmap for the National Cyber Security Strategy (2025–2029). He highlighted Sri Lanka’s long-term goals in strengthening national cyber governance, digital trust, and operational resilience.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Takafumi Kadono, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank, spoke on global cybersecurity trends shaping national preparedness across Asia, emphasizing the importance of multilateral cooperation and investment in cyber capabilities.
The Hon. Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eng. Eranga Weeraratne, highlighted the country’s need to build public trust in digital systems, noting that cybersecurity is a fundamental pillar supporting Sri Lanka’s digital economy, national competitiveness, and social well-being.
Important Focus Areas
The 2025 conference concentrated on several high-priority areas, including:
- National cyber governance and strategic planning
- Strengthening critical information infrastructure protection (CIIP)
- Cybersecurity law, digital rights, and regulatory modernization
- Digital child protection and public online safety
- Incident response maturity and national coordination mechanisms
- AI governance and secure adoption of emerging technologies
- Quantum-era risks, encryption challenges, and next-generation cyber threats
Expert-led thematic discussions explored real-world case studies, sectoral challenges, and frameworks for improving national cyber resilience, offering valuable insight for both public institutions and private sector organizations.
Panel Discussions and Sector Engagement
Several high-level panel discussions examined topics such as:
- Cybersecurity as a foundation for digital economic growth
- Legal and regulatory readiness for a digitally-driven nation
- Institutional preparedness and operational cyber governance
- Public safety, misinformation, and digital harm mitigation
- Securing AI, cloud, and hybrid technology environments
These interactive sessions allowed policymakers, security specialists, and industry leaders to share recommendations and discuss the evolving cyber threat landscape across Sri Lanka and the broader Asia–Pacific region.
Industry Partnerships
The 2025 conference was supported by leading industry partners, demonstrating strong cross-sector collaboration. Dialog Enterprise served as the Principal Sponsor, Check Point joined as the Platinum Sponsor, Fortinet contributed as the Gold Sponsor, TikTok partnered as the Strategic Partner for Online Safety, and Sentry Labs joined as the Silver Sponsor.
These partnerships reflect Sri Lanka’s commitment to enhancing nationwide cybersecurity, advancing public digital trust, and encouraging responsible digital innovation.
Strengthening Sri Lanka's Cyber Future
The 16th National Cyber Security Conference continues to reinforce its role as a strategic platform for building consensus, strengthening institutional capacity, and elevating Sri Lanka’s position in the global cybersecurity landscape. The 2025 edition is expected to play a transformative role in guiding the nation toward a safer, more resilient, and technologically empowered future.