Sri Lanka urges action against cybercrime centres in ASEAN region

Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tharaka Balasuriya, has called for decisive action against cybercrime centres and employment rackets occurring in some parts of the ASEAN region. In his address to the 31st Ministerial Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Laos on Saturday, July 27, Balasuriya also urged the Asia-Pacific region to collectively address emerging challenges, including the security-related aspects of new and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, to prevent their misuse.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement highlighting Balasuriya's emphasis on the importance of sustaining the region’s efforts to promote peace, security, and cooperation. He stressed that the Forum must also focus on tackling challenges to cyber and network security systems and addressing transnational organized crime.

This year’s ARF Ministerial meeting, attended by representatives from 27 ARF members, was chaired by Lao PDR's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Saleumxay Kommasith, under the ASEAN Chairmanship.