Chathura Rajapaksha, Representative Lanka Change Agents, speaks at a press conference held with regard to initiating a programme which will push Sri Lankan authorities to amend rules, laws and regulations to combat increasing cybercrimes through their advocacy efforts  (Pics by Kithsiri de Mel)

According to the Sri Lanka Police the number of complaints related to cybercrimes has surpassed 3000 this year

Lanka Change Agents, a voluntary organization, has created ‘cyber discipline’, a programme which pushes Sri Lankan authorities to amend rules, laws and regulations in the face of increasing cybercrimes through their advocacy efforts. Lanka Change Agents has noticed this increase in the current Sri Lankan context owing to the worst economic meltdown in Sri Lankan history. 

A support system is the most important thing when a person faces a cybercrime. In most instances, the family members and the victim’s closest circle are highly affected. Therefore we are developing the DearBubble concept, which navigates the necessary steps that must be taken by family members - Chaminda Gunasinghe Representative Lanka Change Agents

Chathura Rajapakse, a representative of Lanka Change Agents, said that in 2022, according to the recorded complaints received by the Sri Lanka police on cyber crimes, the number of complaints has surpassed 3000 this year. Accordingly, cybercrimes that are associated with phoney auctions, identity theft, and the sale of stolen information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, and account passwords are showing an acceleration. 

Rajapakshe also said that Lanka Agents are currently in the process of establishing a national sustainability programme with the aim of including aspects related to cyber discipline in the school curriculum. “If we can start from the school level and widen the awareness of cyber discipline among students that would have a major impact on transforming the society in the long run. And also, we cannot keep children away from technology just because technology poses certain threats to individuals. Therefore the best is to educate them so that they do not become a future threat to society,” he added. 

Mainstream media in their youtube channels maintain a separate section called gossip, targeting celebrities which is directly related to hate speech and harassment. Therefore mainstream media also play a major role in cybercrimes. Most media channels have forgotten to follow ethics when reporting cases  - Manohari Kariyawasam 
Representative Lanka Change Agents

The current laws that Sri Lanka considers as those which prevent cybercrimes are insufficient to address cybercrimes in the contemporary context

It is of utmost importance that the citizens push the authorities to pick organizations that follow media ethics and guidelines within an ethical framework - Thushara Sewwandi 
Representative Lanka Change Agents

Moreover, he added that most cyber bullying victims are thrown into such situations when they hand over their mobile phones to repair shops. “We are conducting discussions with the Sri Lanka Police and relevant authorities to regularise phone repairing shops, so that any repairing shop registered with the government authorities is trustworthy and accountable for repairing the phones,” he added. 

Furthermore, he said that the current laws that Sri Lanka considers to prevent cybercrimes are the Information Communication Technology Act 2003 and the Payment and Settlement Act of 2005. Intellectual property Act No 36 of 2006, Sri Lankan Telecommunication Act No 27 of 1996 and the cybercrime Act, which was passed in 2007, are insufficient to address cybercrimes in the contemporary context. Thus, Sri Lanka necessitates cyber laws that are applicable to the current context, and Lanka Change Agents pushes the responsible authorities to bring forward an Act in the parliament to address the needs of the current society by updating the existing laws.  

If we can start from the school level and widen the awareness of cyber discipline among students that would have a major impact on transforming the society in the long run. And also, we cannot keep children away from technology just because technology poses certain threats to individuals - Chathura Rajapaksha  Representative Lanka Change Agents

Manohari Kariyawasam, who is also a representative of Lanka Change Agents, said that celebrities are the most vulnerable group when it comes to cyber bullying and cyber harassment. “Mainstream media in their youtube channels maintain a separate section called gossip, targeting celebrities which is directly related to hate speech and harassment. Therefore mainstream media also play a major role in cybercrimes. Most media channels have forgotten to follow ethics when reporting cases. This is a dangerous situation as a country, although the media channels profit from the number of views they obtain,” she added. 

Most cyber bullying victims are thrown into such situations when they hand over their mobile phones to repair shops

Chaminda Gunasinghe, a representative of Lanka Change Agents, said that they had initiated a concept named ‘DearBubble’, which focuses on the mental health of the cyber victims. “A support system is the most important thing when a person faces a cybercrime. In most instances, the family members and the victim’s closest circle are highly affected. Therefore we are developing the DearBubble concept, which navigates the necessary steps that must be taken by family members and the closest circle of the victim to react and face a situation of cyber harassment,” he added.  

Thushara Sewwandi, also representing Lanka Change Agents, said “When media channels are awarded with excellence awards and are subjected to a rating in different instances, it is of utmost importance that the citizens push the authorities to pick organizations that follow media ethics and guidelines within an ethical framework”.