Sri Lanka is strengthening its digital transformation strategy by embedding cybersecurity at the core of its national digital economy blueprint, reflecting growing threats posed by global scam networks and intensifying competition among digital economies. Speaking at the National Cyber Security Conference in Colombo, Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya stressed that cybersecurity is no longer optional—it is a foundational requirement for economic growth and national competitiveness.
Dr. Wijayasuriya noted that Sri Lanka is competing not only with fast-growing global digital economies but also with what he described as the “scam economy,” valued at more than US$1 trillion, with 60% concentrated in Asia. This reality, he said, makes cyber infrastructure a critical pillar for protecting businesses, enabling innovation, and ensuring trust across digital platforms.
He highlighted that artificial intelligence and other digital technologies now sit at the centre of national competitiveness, influencing value creation, talent development, and economic growth. Sri Lanka’s digital economy blueprint is deliberately designed as AI-first, incorporating cybersecurity principles from the outset to build trust, inclusion, and resilience.
The government’s goal, he said, is to elevate the country’s position in global digital trust and cyber-resilience rankings. Efforts in cybersecurity and digital transformation are therefore aligned not just with IT modernization, but with driving broader macroeconomic progress and strengthening Sri Lanka’s overall economic trajectory.
