TRCSL Participates in Regional Workshop on Secure and Resilient Undersea Cables

06 10 2026 - 15:52 PM

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) actively participated in the regional workshop “Promoting Digital Connectivity: Secure and Resilient Undersea Cables in South Asia,” held on 1–2 October 2026 at the Hilton Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The workshop was organized by the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre (CCRC), an Australian Government initiative established to promote secure, resilient and sustainable submarine cable infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific region. The event brought together senior government officials, telecommunications regulators, maritime authorities and industry representatives from Bangladesh, Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, South Africa and Sri Lanka, with participation from Australia, Japan and the United States.

TRCSL was represented by Air Vice Marshal Bandula Herath (Retd.), Director General; Eng. Buddika Herath, Director – Licence Management; and Eng. S. E. Wakista, Director – Network.

Delivering the keynote address at the opening session, the Director General of TRCSL highlighted the critical role of submarine cable infrastructure in enabling digital transformation, economic development and international connectivity. He emphasized that the increasing dependence of economies and societies on digital services makes the security, resilience and continuity of submarine cable networks a matter of strategic importance.

He further highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation among governments, regulators, telecommunications operators, cable owners, maritime authorities and other relevant stakeholders to safeguard submarine cable infrastructure and ensure reliable international connectivity. Given that submarine cable systems carry the overwhelming majority of global international data traffic, enhancing their resilience is essential to maintaining the continuity of digital services and supporting sustainable economic development.

A key contribution from TRCSL was a presentation by Eng. Buddika Herath, Director – Licence Management, titled “Sri Lanka’s Strategic Position in the Indian Ocean Submarine Cable Network: Opportunities for Digital Connectivity, Resilience and Regional Hub Development.”

The presentation highlighted Sri Lanka’s distinctive geographical position in the Indian Ocean and its proximity to major international maritime and submarine cable routes connecting South Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Europe and Australia. It examined the opportunities arising from this strategic location to further develop Sri Lanka as a regional digital connectivity hub, while strengthening the resilience and diversity of international telecommunications infrastructure.

The presentation also addressed the importance of an enabling policy and regulatory environment, resilient infrastructure, effective cable protection and maintenance arrangements, streamlined permitting processes, investment facilitation and regional cooperation. These measures are important in supporting future submarine cable investments and strengthening Sri Lanka’s contribution to secure and reliable regional digital connectivity.

The workshop provided an important platform for exchanging knowledge and international best practices on submarine cable policy and regulation, infrastructure protection, marine spatial considerations, permitting and licensing frameworks, cable repair and maintenance, risk management and network resilience.

Sri Lanka’s participation in the workshop also reinforced the importance of strengthening regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean and South Asian region, particularly in view of the growing strategic significance of digital infrastructure and international connectivity.

Through its active engagement, TRCSL reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating secure, reliable, resilient and sustainable telecommunications infrastructure and to working with regional and international partners to strengthen digital connectivity for Sri Lanka and the wider region.