The 2nd National Data Protection Symposium on 6 January

Friday, 2 January 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

As Sri Lanka positions itself for a digitally inclusive and globally connected future, the safeguarding of citizens’ personal data has become a matter of national importance. To address these critical issues, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), in collaboration with the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL), has announced that the 2nd National Data Protection Symposium will now be held on 6 January 2026 at Cumulus, Cinnamon Life Colombo.

The symposium, themed “Safeguarding Privacy in the Age of Intelligence,” arrives at a crucial juncture in Sri Lanka’s digital journey. As the country moves into the next five years of technological development, there is an anticipated surge in the use of online platforms, digital payment systems, and data-driven public services. With personal information becoming a high-value asset, the need for a robust data protection framework is more urgent than ever to prevent exploitation and ensure security.

In this “Age of Intelligence,” data protection is not merely a compliance requirement but an essential safety mechanism to preserve the privacy, dignity, and trust of every citizen, therefore a strong privacy framework is increasingly recognised as the backbone of a modern digital economy.

The day-long event will explore critical themes such as institutional readiness for compliance, the ethical boundaries of AI-driven decision-making, and managing privacy risks in e-commerce and digital transactions. A key focus will also be on the recent amendment to the Data Protection Act, No. 9 of 2022, offering insights on how institutions can align with updated legal requirements.

The rescheduled event promises a dynamic lineup of expert addresses and panel discussions designed to cover the full spectrum of modern privacy challenges. The symposium will feature expert addresses by Justice of the Supreme Court Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere, Adviser on Tech Law, Privacy and Digital Policy Jayantha Fernando, Chief Adviser to the President on the Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Data Protection Authority Chairman Rajeeva Bandaranaike, Central Bank Deputy Governor Sirikumara Kudagama followed by key panel discussions featuring Sanduni Wickramasinghe, Suhadini Wickramasinghe, Shanaka Gunasekara, Dr. Sunil Abeyaratne, Waruna Sri Dhanapala, Anushka Cooray, Shenuka Jayalath, Keerthi Pathiraja, Dr. Kanchana Ambagahawita, Asela Waidyalankara, Mahela Liyanage, Sadun Hapugoda, Harsha Fernando PC, Trinesh Fernando, Meta South and Central Asia Director – Public Policy Sarim Aziz and Heminda Jayaweera.

The Symposium’s Official Newspaper Partner is the Daily FT, and Newsfirst serves as the Electronic Media Partner and Xapi and NIBM serves as Symposium Partners for the event.