In an era where child protection and the advancement of women’s rights are deeply intertwined with the digital world, a vital capacity-building and cyber security awareness program was successfully conducted on 24th July 2026, at the Puttalam District Secretariat. 

This timely initiative was organized under the strategic guidance of the "Clean Sri Lanka" project, utilizing the invaluable resource expertise of the Ministry of Defence. The intensive workshop aimed to equip frontline officers with the essential digital safety mechanisms required to protect women and children in the modern digital age. 

The program was graced by the officials from the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, alongside the officials of District Secretariat of Puttalam. 

The technical sessions were expertly conducted by Brigadier K.V.P. Dhammika USP, Director of the Defensive Cyber Command (DCC), along with a specialized team of cyber security experts of the Cyber Command Unit of the Ministry of Defence. 

The workshop saw an exceptional response, bringing together active participants dedicated to strengthening institutional capacity. The diverse audience included officers from the Women and Child Development Units across all Divisional Secretariats in the Puttalam District, and officials from the Puttalam District Secretariat itself. 

Key Focus Areas Covered

The interactive session seamlessly combined practical knowledge, real-world case simulations, and hands-on exercises covering critical digital dimensions: 

• Analyzing evolving cyber threats and their current trends. 

• Navigating and avoiding online scams and digital fraud. 

• Best practices for safe and responsible social media usage. 

• Risk management and threat mitigation strategies. 

• Ensuring comprehensive child protection within cyberspace. 

• Practical steps to secure personal digital footprints. 

The session concluded with an engaging Q&A segment, allowing participants to directly address complex legal and technical challenges with the cyber security experts. Thanks to this successful initiative, our divisional and district officers are now significantly better equipped to face emerging digital risks and proactively protect our communities online. 

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government Agent (GA), the Additional Government Agent, and all supportive officials of the Women and Child Unit, with special appreciation to the Women Development Officer of Puttalam District, for their immense coordination and unwavering support in making this program a resounding success.