Digital Economy Ministry, SEC step up virtual assets regulation with high-level awareness session

Tuesday, 16 June 2026 05:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}


Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne	FIU Director Dr. Subhani Keerthirathna	SEC Chairman Prof. Harindra Dissabandara

The Digital Economy Ministry and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) yesterday conducted a special awareness session on virtual assets as part of efforts to align Sri Lanka’s regulatory framework with rapidly evolving global digital finance trends.

Held under the theme “Let’s Unite for a Safer Digital Future,” the program took place under the patronage of Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eng. Eranga Weeraratne. The event brought together key policymakers, regulators and financial sector stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and risks associated with virtual assets.

During the session, experts Nisal Chandrasekara and Dinindu Thewarathanthri presented insights on the current state of Sri Lanka’s virtual asset market, including risks associated with peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions, offshore platforms and unregulated financial activities.

The discussions also examined international regulatory models adopted in regional financial hubs such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia, with a focus on identifying best practices that could be adapted for Sri Lanka.

Participants were briefed on risk management and compliance measures, including transaction monitoring, Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) controls and the use of blockchain technology to trace transactions.

The session also provided an overview of how virtual assets are created, traded, stored and utilised, covering applications ranging from investment products such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and self-custody holdings to international payment systems.

A 45-minute interactive discussion followed, focusing on investor protection, corporate responsibility and the development of a regulatory roadmap for Sri Lanka’s virtual asset sector.

Among those attending were Senior Adviser to the President on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Digital Economy Ministry Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala, SEC Chairman Prof. Harindra Dissabandara and Central Bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit Director Dr. Subhani Keerthirathna, along with officials from the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Digital Economy Ministry.