News
New ‘Personal Data Protection Bill’ in Parliament soon
The government has presented a new ‘Personal Data Protection Bill’ to regulate the processing of personal data and to provide for the designation of a ‘Data Protection Authority’ (DPA).
The Bill states that it has been introduced to facilitate the growth and innovation in the digital economy of Sri Lanka whilst protecting personal data rights.
“It has become necessary to improve interoperability among personal data protection frameworks as well as to strengthen cross-border cooperation among personal data protection enforcement authorities. It has become necessary for the government to provide for a legal framework to provide mechanisms for the protection of personal data of people ensuring consumer trust and safeguarding privacy whilst respecting domestic written laws and applicable international legal instruments,” the Preamble of the Bill states.
The Bill has made it compulsory to obtain the approval of a data subject (the person to whom the personal data relates) if his or her personal data is used in direct marketing and other such purposes.
“A controller may use postal services, telecommunications services, electronic means or any other similar means for the purposes of disseminating messages only if a data subject has given consent to receive such messages. The controller shall, at the time of collecting contact information and each time where a message is sent, provide to the data subject details on how to opt-out of receiving the solicited messages free,” the Bill states.
The Bill also identifies data protection obligations, rights of data subjects, and duties and functions of the Data Protection Authority. The Bill mentions that a penalty not exceeding Rs.10 million could be imposed on an offender for non-compliance with the provisions in the Bill. The Penalties come into effect only two years after the Speaker certifies the Bill following its passage in Parliament.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake a four-day state visit to Vietnam on 03 May, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Since the presidential election, President Dissanayake has so far visited India, China and the UAE.
The 5th annual Sri Lanka-Pakistan Bilateral Defence Dialogue commenced on Monday (April 28) in Islamabad, Pakistan, marking a continued commitment to strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations.
The MoD statement: “The Sri Lankan delegation is led by Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha accompanied by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, and Additional Secretary (Defence) of the Ministry of Defence Jayantha Edirisinghe. The Pakistani delegation is headed by Lieutenant General (retd.) Muhammad Ali, Secretary Defence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
In conjunction with the on-going defence dialogue, Defence Secretary Thuyacontha held a side-line meeting yesterday (April 29) with Defence Minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
These high-level engagements aim to enhance bilateral cooperation, foster mutual understanding on regional security dynamics and explore opportunities for defence collaboration. Both nations share a longstanding relationship rooted in mutual respect and strategic cooperation. The dialogue reflects the growing importance of partnerships in maintaining stability and promoting peace in the South Asian region.
The three-day dialogue, which concludes today (April 30), is expected to reinforce bilateral defence ties and contribute to broader regional security objectives.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), conducted a two day seminar on disarmament for Sri Lanka Foreign Service Officers on 25 and 26 April, 2025 at the Ministry. The text of the FM statement: “Over 40 officers, based in Colombo, attended the workshop physically while over 60 officers, attached to Sri Lanka Missions abroad, followed the Seminar virtually.
Director of UNIDIR, Dr. Robin Geiss, Senior Researcher at the UNIDIR Security and Technology Programme, Dr. Dongyoun Cho, and Associate of Political Affairs, Ms. Fanny Sebban of UNIDIR, conducted the Seminar as resource personnel. They shared their expertise and perspectives on the global disarmament landscape and evolving threats to international peace and security, etc.
Director of UNIDIR, Dr. Robin Geiss, called on Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and discussed closer cooperation between the Ministry and UNIDIR.
The Human Resource Development, Research & Training Division and the United Nations and Human Rights Division of the Ministry organised the Seminar initiated by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva.”
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