Cabinet nod to draft new laws on cyber security

Cabinet has granted approval to a proposal to draft two bills related to cyber security. 

One of the bills will be named the Defense Cyber Commands Act while another draft will be drafted to impose cyber protection laws. 

With the development of electronic communication, terrorist groups and criminals have tended to use the cyber space and electronic communication for terrorist activities, organized crimes and anti – social activities. Electronic communication across cyber space has been recognized as a crucial factor that can directly affect the national security, the Government said.

Therefore, it is vital to formulate new laws today, covering all sectors for ensuring the security across including the required provisions so that the operations performed by cyber protection units which are established at institutional level at present by the three - armed forces,Police and other agencies, it added. 

Meanwhile, following 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 above including cyber protection provisions in relation to defense sector.

The 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 fulfilment of the purpose, 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.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the proposals furnished by the President as the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Technology.