The Hon. (Dr.) M.L.A.M. Hizbullah

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to participate in the debate on the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill. This Amendment includes many important features.

¶ 03 For years, delays in addressing cyber security, AI, and IT issues were a serious shortcoming, causing hardships to the people. Individuals’ data were stolen and misused by some institutions, with no effective safeguards or legal avenues for police to act. There were also thefts from bank accounts using technology without owners’ knowledge, and complaints did not lead to proper investigations due to lack of legal provisions and equipment. Consequently, such crimes increased. We welcome this Government’s move to bring amendments, and as the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress we express our appreciation.

¶ 04 Under the Hon. President’s leadership, the Government’s emphasis on digitalization is commendable. India advances technologically by the minute; we have not fully entered the tech domain. We lack data centres and other facilities required for digitalization, although we widely use mobile phones and other devices. We must modernize accordingly. Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya is a leading figure in this field; the Hon. President has entrusted him with responsibilities, and he is working well, including on this Amendment. Gaps remain — especially the lack of secure data centres and systems — and must be addressed.

¶ 05 When digitalizing, the key question is how we will protect the data — whether in public or private sectors. We must build systems to secure data and to resolve issues that emerge post-digitalization. The Government should focus on this urgently.

¶ 06 We must also educate our people about AI, IT, and cyber security. For almost ten years, universities have continued with outdated IT syllabi. Technology changes every minute; countries like India revise syllabi annually and provide practical centres and training. Our universities still use outdated computers. Graduates struggle to find freelance online work or jobs in AI and cyber security. According to SLASSCOM, Sri Lanka is allotted about 8,000 online work quotas annually, but we have insufficient qualified persons; only 600–700 are recruited from here, with most going to India. If we train our youth and undergraduates in AI, cyber security, and online work to capture all 8,000, we could earn around US$5 billion in foreign exchange annually, as the Hon. President stated in Parliament. We are missing this opportunity.

¶ 07 Hon. Deputy Minister, please act so we can seize this chance. If state universities cannot deliver the needed training due to investment constraints, work with private universities to provide modern syllabi and training to A/L-qualified youth not entering state universities, enabling them for online work with US, Australian, European, and Japanese companies. With SLASSCOM’s support, we can equip youth, boosting foreign exchange and creating social transformation, since many youths no longer prefer traditional jobs.

¶ 08 Digitalization is not a small subject; it spans public administration, judiciary, police, schools, universities — all sectors. Everyone — the public and officials — must cooperate. The Government’s initiative and the President’s priority are laudable. This should have been done earlier. Digitalization is broad; obtain everyone’s support and fix the deficiencies. I conclude. Thank you.