Sri Lanka joins US-led International Counter Ransomware Initiative

Amidst growing concerns on recent spike in ransomware attacks, the Cabinet nod has been granted to join the United States (US)-led International Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI).
The Government Information Department noted that Sri Lanka has received an invitation to join the initiative. Accordingly, President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Technology and Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe this week sought the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to join the initiative.

“Since Sri Lanka has recently faced various problems due to Ransomware, it has been recognised that it can benefit from joining the international anti-ransomware initiative,” the Government Information Department said.
The CRI was launched in 2021 as a common platform with a number of other countries for international coordination to eliminate ransomware.

During the third CRI gathering held last year, the members focused on developing capabilities to disrupt attackers and the infrastructure they use to conduct their attacks, improving cybersecurity through sharing information, and fighting back against ransomware actors. This includes a mentorship and tactical training programme for new CRI members to build their cyber capacity and launching a project to leverage artificial intelligence to counter ransomware.

Further, it was decided to launch innovative information sharing platforms enabling CRI member countries to rapidly share threat indicators. The International Counter Ransomware Task Force (ICRTF) was earlier established, and it has begun developing platforms for coordinating and disrupting ransomware at an operational level.
So, far, 50 countries around the world and the European Union as well as the Interpol have joined the initiative.