News
Public warned to be careful about web pages that seek sensitive personal information purportedly for election purposes
BY Saman Indrajith
The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has urged the general public to be careful when confronted with webpages that seek sensitive personal information for alleged election purposes.
SLCERT Senior Information Security Engineer Charuka Damunupola told the media on Thursday that they hadcome across a website collecting sensitive personal information, which closely resembled the official Elections Commission website.
“This website has adverts on recruiting employees for various public sector institutions ahead of the election. Those who seek employment were prompted to fill out a questionnaire which collects personal information. At the end, a message instructed them to share a final link among several WhatsApp groups,” he added.
Following several complaints. SLCERT took immediate action to shut down the website.
“We are under no illusions that this is the only website of this nature. I am sure there are many such websites and many new ones will spring up,” he said.
Damunupola said these attempts at collecting personal information is in line with a marked increase in online scams in recent years. 80 percent of the complaints they receive are related to social media, he said.
“Most Sri Lankans don’t understand how valuable personal information is. They also do not care much about people getting access to copies of their identity cards, etc. Cyber-criminals can use the copy of an NIC and open an online bank account. If that account is used for criminal activity, investigators might end up suspecting the person whose NIC was used,” he said.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.
The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.
A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.
The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.
Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.
[President’s Media Division]
The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.
During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”
The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions
Grade 5 scholarship exam results released
Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan
Bouchier century sets England up for record 282-run chase against Ireland
Muneeba, Pakistan’s spinners knock Thailand out of Asia Cup
Showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News6 days agoEight politicians in drug kingpin probe
-
Features4 days ago“Wrap Me Up in My Blazer”— A Gentlemanly Bradby Reminiscence
-
Business6 days agoSri Lanka opens up: A new season of direct connectivity
-
Features6 days agoRedefining ageing in Sri Lanka
-
Latest News6 days agoNepal-Tibet floods: What happened, what caused them and who is missing?
-
Features3 days agoWhen Sri Lankan stories find their own voice
-
Editorial7 days agoUnfolding El Niño and burning issues
-
Editorial6 days agoThe toxic legacy of two lakes