In a strategic move to safeguard personal data, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has made arrangements to set up a Board of Directors, including a chairman, following discussions with Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka and Minister of State for Technical Affairs, Kanaka Herath.
Arjuna Herath has been appointed as the Chairman of Personal Data Protection Authority, with the inclusion of Jananath Fernando, Sulaksha Jayawardena, Soumya Amarasekara, Shehan Wijethilaka, Bisara Senaviratne and Nishith Abesuriya as Board members.
Despite the enactment of the Personal Data Protection Act in early 2022, its implementation has faced delays of over a year. President Wickremesinghe’s proactive measure to appoint a chairman and a Board of Directors seeks to expedite the enforcement of this crucial legislation. The Personal Data Protection Act secures personal data, endowing the Personal Data Protection Authority with the authority to penalise those found guilty of misusing personal data.
This newly appointed Board will play a pivotal role in overseeing the setting up of the authority, determining staffing requirements, and operationalising its functions. The United Nations, the European Union, and the World Bank have collaborated to offer support to this authority, under the guidance of Chief of Staff Ratnayaka.
The absence of a data protection authority had previously deterred foreign IT companies from investing in the country. The Government said that the setting up of this authority will clear this obstacle, paving the way for increased foreign investments in the burgeoning tech sector.
Empowered to make decisions concerning the processing and utilisation of personal data by institutions, the Personal Data Protection Authority is poised to enhance data security, foster international confidence, and stimulate foreign investments in Sri Lanka’s burgeoning technology landscape.
