In line with the directives of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, His Excellency the President, a special meeting was convened at the Presidential Secretariat to expedite the implementation of the Cabinet decision to connect Critical Government Institutions to the National Cyber Security Operations Centre (NCSOC).
The establishment of the NCSOC by Sri Lanka CERT, under the guidance of the Ministry of
Digital Economy, marks a significant milestone in strengthening Sri Lanka’s national cyber
security framework. The initiative aims to enhance real-time threat monitoring, coordinated
incident response, and proactive cyber defence mechanisms across critical government
infrastructure.
The meeting was led by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eng. Eranga Weeraratna, and
Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy, Mr. Waruna Sri Dhanapala. During the session, it was underscored that cyber security is no longer merely a technical
concern, but a matter of national importance that directly impacts public trust, economic
stability, and national security. Senior officials of Sri Lanka CERT conducted a comprehensive demonstration of the capabilities of the NCSOC, including the functions of the newly established Malware Analysis and Threat Hunting (MATH) Lab.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of strengthening cyber security awareness and implementing structured digital security training programmes for public sector officials. As Sri Lanka advances toward a digital economy, cyber resilience was recognized as an essential pillar of governance and public service delivery. The NCSOC is expected to play a vital role in safeguarding government digital infrastructure against evolving cyber threats, including ransomware attacks, data breaches, and website defacements. Through this centralized mechanism, government institutions will gain access to early warning systems, real-time monitoring, and coordinated national-level incident response capabilities.
The initiative was described not merely as a compliance requirement, but as a strategic
investment in institutional credibility, operational continuity, and national resilience.
Director General of Pensions, Mr. Chaminda Hettiarachchi; Director IT of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr. G.V.D. Priyantha; and Mr. Aravinda Rathnayake, Senior Engineer of ICTA, shared their experiences in connecting their respective institutions to the National SOC.
At the session, Chairman of Sri Lanka CERT, Mr. Thilak Pathirage; Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka CERT, Dr. Kanishka Karunasena; Mr. Mahinda Kandapahala, Chief Information Security Officer (NCSOC) of Sri Lanka CERT; Mr. Senalike Dewalawaththa, Head of the MATH Lab; and Mr. Pathum Bandara and Mr. Vimuthki Perera of NCSOC delivered presentations. Staff members of Sri Lanka CERT, along with heads and senior representatives of critical government organisations participated in the discussion.
