Russia’s Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and Sri Lanka’s Defense Secretary Kamal Gunaratne held in-depth discussions on Cyber Security threats, according to Security Council’s press service.
“Threats in the field of information security, measures to combat crimes using information and communication technologies were considered in detail,” it said.
Patrushev was on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka early this week where he held high-profiled discussions with the President and senior Sri Lankan military officials.
Sri Lanka has seen an increasing number of cyberattacks including ransomware in recent years. However, many such cyber-attacks go unreported. The Government recently completed the drafting of new cyber security law. Meanwhile, Russia remains a key source of cyber attacks in the world.
Both countries also discussed issues of military and military-technical cooperation, topics related to ensuring social and political stability and law and order, sanitary and epidemiological well-being.
During Patrushev’s visit, the two countries also discussed intensification of bilateral cooperation on anti-terrorism issues, including the establishment of an exchange of analytical materials on individuals and organizations involved in terrorist activities.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa invited Russian investors to invest in the Chinese-built Colombo Port City, and in energy, pharmaceutical, ICT, agriculture, infrastructure, oil and gas exploration, and logistics sectors.
During his talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and top defense officials in Sri Lanka, he highlighted Russia’s emerging focus on the Indian Ocean region.
As the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations – falls on the 19th of February in 2022, President Rajapaksa outlined that Patrushev’s visit will further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two nations.
Similar to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Patrushev is also a security and intelligence expert with experience in serving in the Committee for State Security (KGB) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and of the Federal Security Service of Russia after the collapse of the USSR.
Patrushev visited Sri Lanka after attending the ‘Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan’ in New Delhi.
The longstanding friendship between the two countries is marked by Russia’s continuous support of Sri Lanka at international forums. President Rajapaksa commended Russia’s role as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council in promoting the interests and concerns of developing countries in the areas of peace and security and expressed gratitude for Russia’s strong support to Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council sessions.
The recent visit of Moscow’s top security official to Colombo and growing Russia – Sri Lanka ties showcase the balanced foreign policy strategy of Sri Lanka.