Sri Lanka’s planned Submarine Cable Protection Framework may come under a new Cyber Security Act (CSA) and revised telecommunication legislation, The Sunday Morning learns.
Informed sources told The Sunday Morning that the Government was planning to designate submarine cables as critical information infrastructure and legislate it under the upcoming cyber security legislation.
The sources said that the Government would also move to amend the Telecommunications Act to include provisions which would make damaging or tampering with undersea cables a crime.
It is understood that the draft cyber security legislation is currently with the Legal Draftsman’s Department and will likely be put to the Cabinet of Ministers by end 2022.
Submarine cable networks are part of a country’s critical national infrastructure, with those that lie on Sri Lankan ocean beds connecting Sri Lanka to the world.
Over the last decade, two incidents involving commercial vessels caused internet and communications outages in Sri Lanka.
In 2021, Sri Lanka initiated a Submarine Cable Protection Framework with the assistance of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Japan, following initial interest on the topic at the 2018 ‘Indian Ocean: Defining Our Future’ conference held in Colombo.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) worked together with assistance from the UNODC, to draft what is the region’s first protection legislation for submarine cables that link the world.
It is understood that the framework is now being designed by the Ministry of Technology and a committee has been appointed to take onboard recommendations made by the Attorney General’s Department, the TRCSL, SLCERT, the Ministry of Defence, and the Police.
However, TRCSL Acting Director General R.G.H.K. Ranatunga told The Sunday Morning that they were not aware of the progress of the framework, pointing to the issue being neglected due to frequent changes in the ministries that the TRCSL had been shuttled between over the last year.
The TRCSL was moved between the Ministry of Technology and the Ministry of Defence during 2021 and in 2022.
– By Asiri Fernando
Digital resilience: Submarine Cable Protection Framework under new CSA?
11 Sep 2022
Digital resilience: Submarine Cable Protection Framework under new CSA?
11 Sep 2022
Kapruka
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!