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Surge in cybercrime shadows SL’s tech leap
As Sri Lanka advances its digital transformation agenda, the nation is confronting a rapidly escalating wave of cyber threats, said a release. The latest cybersecurity data from Kaspersky reveals a concerning surge in malware infections and phishing attacks, putting individuals, businesses, and public sector entities at significant risk.
Globally, Kaspersky blocked over 302 million malware attacks in 2024 alone, while unique malicious web objects detected rose to more than 72 million. Phishing attacks, which trick users into disclosing sensitive information, increased by 26% compared to the previous year. Alarmingly, phishing attacks exploiting financial services and cryptocurrency themes surged by 83.4%.
Sam Yan, Head of Sales for Asia Emerging Countries at Kaspersky, notes, “The trends we see globally are increasingly reflected in Sri Lanka’s digital environment. Phishing attacks have evolved beyond simple email scams to sophisticated social engineering tactics that prey on users’ trust and lack of cybersecurity awareness. Many Sri Lankan organisations and everyday users remain vulnerable due to limited security education and outdated defence systems.”
The surge in cybercrime comes as Sri Lanka embraces digital payments, e-commerce, and cryptocurrency investments. With mobile banking adoption growing rapidly, attackers now target smartphones with malware disguised as legitimate applications, such as fake VPNs or parcel tracking services.
According to Sam, “Sri Lanka’s expanding digital footprint is a double-edged sword. While digital services bring convenience, they also expose users to risks like credential theft and financial fraud. Cybercriminals adapt quickly, exploiting new vulnerabilities and trends such as remote work and digital wallets.”
Experts emphasise that mitigating these risks requires a multi-layered approach: implementing strong technical defenses such as endpoint protection and web filtering; fostering public cybersecurity awareness campaigns; and enforcing stricter regulations around data privacy and online transactions.
Sri Lankan businesses, especially SMEs, must prioritise cybersecurity as a core element of their operational strategy. Sam adds, “Investment in cybersecurity is no longer optional but a necessity. This includes adopting multi-factor authentication, conducting regular staff training, and collaborating with cybersecurity providers for threat intelligence.”
Public institutions also play a critical role. As digital government initiatives expand, safeguarding citizen data and online services from phishing and malware attacks is vital to maintaining public trust.
Kaspersky’s report highlights that financial phishing, particularly in the business-to-business (B2B) sector, is on the rise. Sri Lanka ranks among the countries with the highest number of phishing attacks aimed at B2B financial notifications, with 9,218 incidents detected in 2024.
To counteract this growing threat, Kaspersky recommends that businesses and financial institutions in Sri Lanka implement a series of proactive security measures: Deploy anti-phishing technologies to detect and block malicious communications in real-time. Invest in employee training to raise awareness about phishing tactics and how to spot suspicious activities. And implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of protection to sensitive financial transactions.
Sri Lanka’s position as a growing target for financial phishing attacks is not unique. According to Kaspersky’s global statistics, countries such as Belarus, Moldova, and the Philippines top the list for the highest percentage of users attacked by web-borne threats. However, Sri Lanka remains vulnerable, with a significant number of businesses still at risk of falling victim to these cybercrimes.
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Landslide RED warnings issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya extended up to 1600 hrs today [07]
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Matara, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura effective from 16:00 hrs on 06.12.2025 to 16:00 hrs on 07.12.2025.
Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pathadumbara, Kundasale, Pathahewaheta, Panvila, Medadumbara, Doluwa, Thumpane, Udunuwara, Deltota, Ganga Ihala Korale, Pasbage Korale, Yatinuwara, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Minipe, Udapalatha, Gangawata Korale, Akurana, Poojapitiya and Harispattuwa in the Kandy district, Thumpane, Udunuwara, Deltota, Ganga Ihala Korale, Pasbage Korale, Yatinuwara, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Minipe, Udapalatha, Gangawata Korale, Akurana, Poojapitiya and Harispattuwa in the Kegalle district, Alawwa, Rideegama, Polgahawela, Mallawapitiya and Mawathagama inthe Kurunegala district, Ukuwela, Naula, Yatawatta, Laggala Pallegama, Pallepola, Matale, Rattota, Ambanganga Korale and Wilgamuwa in the Matale district, and Hanguranketha, Mathurata, Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya district
LEVEL II AMBER warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Ella, Welimada, Haputhale, Lunugala, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale West, Norwood, Ambagamuwa Korale, Thalawakele, Kothmale East and Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district and Godakawela, Kahawaththa and Kolonna in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colonbo district, Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Divulapitiya and Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya, Bulathsinhala and Horana in the Kalutara district, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, Bibile and Medagama in the Monaragala district, and Kuruwita, Balangoda, Eheliyagoda, Pelmadulla, Kaltota, Kalawana, Openayake, Ayagama, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Elapatha, Ratnapura and Kiriella in the Ratnapura district.
The Situation Report issued by the Disaster Management Center [DMC] at 2000hrs on Saturday [06] confirms that 607 persons have died due to the recent flooding and landslides while another 209 persons were missing.
The death toll in the Kandy district which one of the most affected districts has risen to 232, and 1800 houses have been fully damaged.The number of missing persons reported is 81
100,124 persons belonging to 29,874 families were being housed at 990 safety centers established by the government.
The government’s failure to act on expert warnings, including advance forecasts on Cyclone Ditwah, had led to the worsening of disaster impact, Udaya Gammanpila, leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, said at a press conference in Colombo yesterday.
Gammanpila accused the NPP government of ignoring 14 key preventive measures, despite alerts from the Meteorology Department, foreign experts, and the media.
Gammanpila said the government had failed to lower the water levels in reservoirs, dredge estuaries, and deploy the armed forces for canal maintenance. Local government bodies were reportedly sidelined, and that led to a delay in cleaning of drains. He said the government had also failed to evacuate people in a timely manner from seven districts identified by the National Building Research Organisation as landslide-prone. It had delayed declaring emergencies or curfews and the deployment of tri-forces to evacuate people in such areas.
Gammanpila said an experienced public official should have been appointed as Secretary to the President to mobilise the state machinery swiftly during the disaster. He said the government had not convened the National Disaster Council.
“These failures worsened the disaster, causing immense hardship, disruption, and loss of life and property to the people,” Gammanpila said.
The government has denied the Opposition’s claims.
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618 dead, 209 missing as at 2000hrs on Saturday [06]
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