Preliminary discussions have commenced on establishing a national framework to protect children from online exploitation, cyberbullying and other digital threats, bringing together key government ministries to develop a coordinated approach to child online safety and digital wellbeing.
According to the Prime Minister’s Media Division, the initial discussion on the “Initiative for Child Online Safety and Digital Wellbeing” was held at Temple Trees on Monday (02), with the participation of representatives from seven key ministries.
The framework developed through these discussions is expected to be presented at a Ministerial Roundtable Discussion chaired by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on December 16, 2026, ahead of the Regional Summit on Child Online Safety and Wellbeing scheduled for January 2027.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, while Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri delivered the introductory briefing.
Addressing the gathering, Saputhanthri highlighted the increasing online risks faced by children due to the rapid advancement of digital technology and stressed the need for a coordinated national programme involving government institutions, experts and international organisations.
He said future initiatives would focus on three key pillars: Empowerment, Safety and Accountability by Design, and Protection, Response and Governance.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Weeraratne revealed that the government intends to provide internet connectivity to all secondary schools by the end of 2026 and extend connectivity to primary schools in 2027.
He emphasised that ensuring a safe digital environment for children was essential alongside efforts to expand access to technology.
The Deputy Minister also highlighted Sri Lanka’s ambition to take a leading role in developing regional and international policies on child online safety by bringing together South Asian countries.
During the discussion, representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF delivered technical presentations, while experts presented findings based on global research and outlined proposals for a comprehensive digital safety framework.
Representatives from seven ministries, including Digital Economy, Health, Education, Women and Child Affairs, Defence, Public Security and Youth Affairs, presented existing challenges and proposed measures to strengthen child protection.
Legal aspects of the proposed framework were also discussed with representatives from the Attorney General’s Department, while officials outlined the next steps and tentative timeline for implementation. (Newswire)