This report on data governance in Sri Lanka is part of the “Harnessing Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia” (D4DAsia) project, which aims, inter alia, to create and mobilize new knowledge about the tensions, gaps, and evolution of the data governance ecosystem, taking into account both formal and informal policies and practices. This report is also part of a broader comparative effort that includes case studies from India, Indonesia, Nepal, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. The report provides contextual information about Sri Lanka’s constitutional and governance framework and discusses laws and policies that promote openness or access to data, as well as those that facilitate interoperability or cross-border data transfers. It also examines the opposite; laws, policies, and practices that restrict openness or access to data. The report emphasizes the significance of data governance in shaping Sri Lanka’s digital future. 
This report on data governance in Sri Lanka is part of the “Harnessing Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia” (D4DAsia) project, which aims, inter alia, to create and mobilize new knowledge about the tensions, gaps, and evolution of the data governance ecosystem, taking into account both formal and informal policies and practices. This report is also part of a broader comparative effort that includes case studies from India, Indonesia, Nepal, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. The report provides contextual information about Sri Lanka’s constitutional and governance framework and discusses laws and policies that promote openness or access to data, as well as those that facilitate interoperability or cross-border data transfers. It also examines the opposite; laws, policies, and practices that restrict openness or access to data. The report emphasizes the significance of data governance in shaping Sri Lanka’s digital future. 
On 15 October 2025, the Asian Development Bank’s Serendipity Knowledge Program (SKOP) hosted a high-level event on Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity, and Data Protection for Digital Economy Development in Sri Lanka. Professor Rohan Samarajiva, Chair of LIRNEasia, participated as a panelist in the discussion on the need for a security-first and privacy-respecting culture from schools to workplaces, including government institutions. The other panelists were Shariffah Rashidah binti Syed Othman (Commissioner of Personal Data Protection, Department of Personal Data Protection, Ministry of Digital, Malaysia), Rajeeva Bandaranaike (Chairman, Data Protection Agency, Sri Lanka), and Avanthi Colombage (Country Manager, Visa Sri Lanka). The panel, moderated by Antonio Zaballos (Director of the Digital Sector at ADB), explored challenges, opportunities, and priorities in creating a resilient digital economy. The SKOP event provided a platform to share international best practices and innovative solutions, advancing dialogue on a secure and trusted digital economy in Sri Lanka. 
On September 13th, over 300 business professionals gathered in Ratnapura for the 5th Business and Investment Summit, hosted by Lanka Business TV. The keynote address was delivered by Professor Rohan Samarajiva, Chair of LIRNEasia, who explored the theme “Digitalization: What’s in it for Business.” His presentation offered a compelling look at how digital transformation can reshape business environments, drawing on both global benchmarks and Sri Lanka’s own progress. Professor Samarajiva’s presentation looked at Estonia’s model of digital governance and then turned to Sri Lanka’s evolving digital landscape. He highlighted platforms like GovPay, which enable mobile payments for traffic fines and government services. 
LIRNEasia’s Senior Research Manager, Gayani Hurulle, was invited to conduct a session on Leveraging Digitalization for Inclusive Growth at a regional workshop on Best Practices for Accelerated Pro-Poor and Inclusive Growth Initiatives, held from 24 to 26 June 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was jointly organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the BIMSTEC Secretariat, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The workshop brought together government officials and experts from BIMSTEC Member States: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, along with representatives from ASEAN countries, think tanks, and development organizations. The goal was to share knowledge and experiences on strategies that have successfully addressed poverty and supported inclusive economic growth. In her session, Gayani shared insights from LIRNEasia’s nationally representative surveys conducted in 2017/2018 (After Access) and 2021, to highlight gaps in access and usage, and insights from two case studies on social protection and labour. 
This report is part of the “Harnessing Data for Democratic Development in South and Southeast Asia” (D4DAsia) initiative. The project seeks to critically examine how data governance is evolving across the region, with attention to both formal frameworks and informal norms. In the case of Thailand, this means analysing how state, corporate, and civil society actors shape the production, access, and use of data in ways that either enable or constrain democratic values. Thailand stands at a pivotal moment in its digital transformation journey, where the governance of data is increasingly central to questions of rights, development, and democratic accountability. As data becomes ever more embedded in public services, commerce, and civic life, the structures that govern its use, such as laws, policies, practices and technologies, have profound implications for inclusive and equitable development. 
This report is part of the Data for Development project which aims, inter alia, to create and mobilize new knowledge about tensions, gaps, and the evolution of the data governance ecosystem taking into account formal and informal policies and practices. This regional synthesis report explores the intricate web of data governance systems and their potential to contribute to more democratic and inclusive societies. It examines the tensions that arise between various data-related policies, such as personal data protection, competition law, open data initiatives, cybersecurity measures, and AI and innovation strategies. While developed countries may have mechanisms to address these conflicts, many nations in South and Southeast Asia face significant hurdles in creating and implementing effective data governance frameworks. The report seeks to uncover the unique challenges faced by countries in the region, including opaque policy-making processes, limited stakeholder participation, and policies that may not always align with local contexts or implementation capacities. 
LIRNEasia co-convened one of the six parallel sessions, “Digital Transformation for Social Protection,” along with the World Bank at the National Social Protection Dialogue. This session focused on how to improve the Integrated Welfare Management System (IWMS), Sri Lanka’s key platform for managing social assistance delivery. 
සම්පූර්ණයෙන්ම ඩිජිටල්කරණය කරන ලද රජයේ ගෙවීම් පද්ධතියක් රජය, බදු ගෙවන්නන්, සහ බැංකු වැනි මූල්ය ආයතන ඇතුළු සැමට ජයග්රහණයක් වන්නේ මන්දැයි LIRNEasia සභාපති මහාචාර්ය රොහාන් සමරජීව මහතා The Leaderහි පළවූ ඔහුගේ නවතම සිංහල ලිපියේ පැහැදිලි කර ඇත. සම්පූර්ණ ලිපිය කියවන්න. The article has been published under Prof. Samarajiva’s column in the Daily Mirror in English. You can read the English version as well if you prefer. 
In an insightful 50-minute discussion, Principal Presidential Advisor on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya sat down with LIRNEasia Chair Prof. Rohan Samarajiva to share his insights on the key priorities and challenges in shaping the nation’s digital transformation. From bridging the country’s digital skills gap and fostering a thriving innovation ecosystem to implementing effective policy reforms, the conversation explores the steps needed to propel Sri Lanka into a competitive position on the global digital stage. Both experts bring a wealth of experience in technology, telecom, and policy, offering a thought-provoking dialogue on what it takes to drive meaningful change.