Cabinet approves proposals for Cyber Security Laws

by Zulfick Farzan 12-10-2021 | 10:43 AM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Minister has granted approval to the proposals to draft a bill named the 'Defence Cyber Commands Act' and a bill for imposing cyber protection laws.

The proposals were made by the President as the Minister of Defence and the Ministry of Technology.

Bill for Defense Cyber Commands Act :

The Department of Government Information in a statement noted that with the development of electronic communication, terrorist groups and criminals have tended to use cyberspace and electronic communication for

terrorist activities, organized crimes, and anti-social activities.

Electronic communication across cyberspace has been recognized as a crucial factor that can directly affect national security.

Therefore, it has been vital to formulate new laws today, covering all sectors for ensuring the national security across including the required provisions so that the operations performed by cyber protection units which are established at the institutional level at present by the three - armed forces,

Police and other agencies, said the Department of Government Information.

Draft bill for imposing cyber protection laws :

Cyber security and preparation of an institutional structure in the connection is coming under the scope of the Ministry of Technology.

Accordingly, followed by discussions held with the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Technology and other related parties, it has been decided appropriate to formulate a respective draft bill

as mentioned in (a) above including cyber protection provisions in relation to defense sector.

"Requirement of formulation of new laws is with the intention of

creating a regulatory framework for implementing national information apart from those applicable to national defense and cyber protection strategy, formulation of provisions to establish Sri Lanka Cyber Protection Agency to act with other cooperating agencies for the fulfillment of the purpose, the introduction of legal provisions required for protecting infrastructure facilities related to decisive and essential information within the country, prevention of risk activities that affect the cyber security as well as creating a formal cyber protected environment within the country" said the Department of Government Information.