Wariyapola: As digital transformation accelerates across public sectors, safeguarding sensitive government data and public trust has become a paramount priority. Responding to this critical need, the Defence Cyber Command (DCC) successfully conducted a comprehensive, two-day intensive training programme on cybersecurity from 11-12 June 2026 at the North Western Training Institute in Wariyapola.
According to Ministry of Defence – Sri Lanka, the initiative was launched at the official request of the North Western Provincial Secretariat, aiming to fortify the digital defences of regional administrative sectors. By bridging both the technical and legal dimensions of digital security, the programme sought to equip public officials with the competence and confidentiality required to navigate and mitigate emerging cyber threats effectively.
The significance of the workshop was highlighted by its robust attendance, drawing over 300 public officials from diverse government sectors. Key regional leaders, including the Secretary to the Provincial Ministry of Agriculture and the Deputy Secretary to the North Western Secretariat, were present throughout the sessions, underscoring the provincial administration’s top-down commitment to cyber resilience.
The program was spearheaded by the Director of the Defence Cyber Command, alongside a specialised elite team of expert DCC officers. Recognising that theoretical awareness alone cannot stop a live network breach or a sophisticated phishing attempt, the DCC team structured the interactive two-day event around comprehensive live demonstrations and hands-on exercises. Public officials were given practical insight into how threat actors operate and how standard administrative workflows can be hardened against intrusion.
The training itinerary fused rigorous technical training with the critical legal frameworks necessary for modern public governance, covering a wide range of topics including National Resilience, AI/Quantum Threats, Cyber Crime, Cyber Laws, Cyber Security Best Practices, Risk Mitigation and Policy, Live Attack Simulation, Practical Device Security, and an Interactive Quiz and Gamified Knowledge Review.
The event concluded with an open Q and A session, a collective feedback block, and a formal Vote of Thanks, marking a major step forward in the North Western Province’s strategy to build a proactive, security-first public sector capable of defending state assets against an increasingly complex digital landscape.