The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (Sri Lanka CERT) conducted a Cyber Security Awareness Program for the senior management of the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday (25), underscoring the importance of leadership‑driven cybersecurity governance in the public sector.The program was attended by Additional Secretaries, Senior Assistant Secretaries, and other senior officials and decision-makers representing various departments of the Prime Minister’s Office.
The awareness session focused on the evolving cyber threat landscape, emerging cyber risks affecting government institutions, and the critical importance of implementing the National Cyber Security Policy across public sector organizations.Participants were briefed on the increasing sophistication of cyber threats and the need for proactive measures to protect government information systems and critical digital assets.A key focus of the program was the pivotal role of senior leadership in establishing and sustaining a strong cybersecurity culture. Discussions highlighted the responsibilities of top management in providing strategic direction, allocating adequate resources, ensuring compliance with national cybersecurity policies and standards, and overseeing effective cyber risk management practices across their respective organizations The session also emphasized the accountability of senior officials in safeguarding critical information assets and supporting the work of Information Security Officers (ISOs) and Assistant Information Security Officers (AISOs).
In addition, participants were encouraged to strengthen incident response preparedness and promote continuous cybersecurity awareness among all staff to enhance organizational resilience against cyber threats.The sessions were conducted by Charuka Damunupola, Lead Information Security Engineer, and Thilina Dissanayake, Manager Capacity Development on Cyber Safety, who shared practical insights into current cybersecurity challenges, governance best practices, and the strategic role of executive leadership in strengthening cyber resilience within government institutions.
