Visa Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives Avanthi Colombage (right) with CICRA Group Director/CEO Boshan Dayaratne
The 10th Annual Cyber Security Summit 2024, a premier event in Sri Lanka’s cybersecurity calendar, saw Visa as its Strategic Partner for the sixth consecutive year.
Held on 25 and 26 November at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo, this milestone edition of the summit brought together leading global and local experts to address the nation’s evolving cybersecurity challenges.
As Sri Lanka underwent rapid digital transformation, the demand for robust cybersecurity had never been more critical. The country had made significant strides in developing ICT skills and awareness, yet gaps in cybersecurity implementation persisted, threatening essential sectors such as banking, finance, and telecommunications. The strain on IT infrastructure, coupled with the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals – many of whom were seeking opportunities overseas – heightened the urgency for actionable solutions.
In this context, Visa’s continued partnership highlighted its dedication to enhancing Sri Lanka’s cybersecurity landscape. Drawing on its expertise in data protection, fraud prevention, and cybersecurity, Visa played a pivotal role in the summit’s discussions, focusing on critical areas such as data breaches, leak prevention, and safeguarding sensitive information.
CICRA Group Director/CEO Boshan Dayaratne said: “We were delighted to have Visa join hands with us for the sixth consecutive year. Their unwavering support had been instrumental in the success of our summit year after year. Visa’s insights and contributions enriched our efforts to address Sri Lanka’s critical cybersecurity challenges.”
Visa Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives Avanthi Colombage said: “At Visa, we are proud to support CICRA for the 10th Annual Cyber Security Summit and bring our global expertise in payments security. In a time when AI and organised cybercrime are gaining prominence, investing in risk infrastructure and implementing security by design helped protect organisations from threats and bad actors. Visa remains committed to enhancing the country’s payments ecosystem through innovation and partnership for better, safer digital payment experiences.”
As the Strategic Partner, Visa contributed to shaping actionable strategies to protect Sri Lanka’s rapidly expanding digital landscape. The summit served as an essential platform for knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and fostering collaboration in the fight against cyber threats.
