The “Serendipity Knowledge Program” (SKOP) is ADB’s knowledge program dedicated to Sri Lanka, designed to respond effectively to the country’s needs in line with ADB's vision as a knowledge solutions bank. SKOP seeks to share knowledge on issues relevant to Sri Lanka and facilitate discussion among stakeholders.

The latest SKOP event was on Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity, and Data Protection for Digital Economy Development. The development of a secure and trusted digital economy is critical for Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic transformation and growth. With the government’s prioritization of digital transformation, which will enable whole-of-government digitalization, and in the wake of increasing cyber and data privacy threats on citizen data, cybersecurity and data protection safeguards must be embedded by design and by default into Sri Lanka’s digital systems.

This SKOP event aimed to provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss and share best practices in cybersecurity and data protection, as well as challenges and opportunities in building a resilient digital economy. Renowned experts in cybersecurity, data protection, digital policy, and economic development shared international experiences and innovative solutions to foster a secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem. The event brought together a diverse group of participants, including senior government officials, leading private sector representatives, think tanks, development partners, civil society organizations, and ADB staff.