Education

Sri Lanka Enacts Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Act No. 22 of 2025

Sri Lanka has taken another major step toward strengthening digital governance and privacy rights with the enactment of the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Act No. 22 of 2025.

On October 30, 2025, Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne endorsed the certificate on the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, officially bringing the legislation into force.

The Bill, which underwent its third reading on October 21, 2025, was passed by Parliament with amendments. Originally published in the Gazette on March 27, 2025, and presented to Parliament by the Minister of Digital Economy on May 8, 2025, the new law amends the Personal Data Protection Act No. 9 of 2022 — a key framework for safeguarding citizens’ personal information in Sri Lanka’s digital era.

The amendments revise Sections 1, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 52, 53, 56, and Schedule VI of the principal Act. They also replace Section 26 and introduce a new Section 51A, reflecting the evolving global standards of data governance.

A central focus of the amendment is to establish a robust institutional framework for data regulation, ensuring the protection of data subjects’ rights while enabling both public and private sector entities to align with emerging digital strategies.

With this legislation, Sri Lanka moves closer to international benchmarks on data privacy, cybersecurity, and digital trust, paving the way for a secure and transparent digital economy.

Reporter

Recent Posts

Sri Lanka to Reopen Schools Nationwide After Cyclone Ditwah, With Special Measures for Affected Areas

Schools across Sri Lanka that were closed due to the disaster situation caused by Cyclone…

4 weeks ago

Australia Strengthens Ties with Sri Lanka During High-Level Visit

Australia’s Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, and International Education, Julian Hill, has…

1 month ago

Notice on reopening preschools and early childhood development centers

All preschools and early childhood development centers that were closed due to the emergency disaster…

1 month ago

Sri Lanka Reschedules 2025 A/L Exams to January 2026 Following Severe Weather Disruptions

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education has announced that the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) examinations—previously…

1 month ago

Australia and UNFPA Step Up Emergency Support for Women and Girls Affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka

Australia has partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance…

1 month ago

Sri Lanka Teachers’ Union Calls for Urgent Financial Relief for Educators Hit by Disasters

The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has called on the Sri Lankan government to immediately introduce…

1 month ago