North Western Province Public Officials Empowered in Landmark Cybersecurity Training Led by Defence Cyber Command

As digital transformation accelerates across public sectors, safeguarding sensitive government data and public trust has become a paramount priority. Responding to this critical need, the Defence Cyber Command (DCC) successfully conducted a comprehensive, two day intensive training programme on cybersecurity from 11-12 June 2026 at the North Western Training Institute in Wariyapola.

The initiative, launched at the official request of the North Western Provincial Secretariat, aimed to fortify the digital defences of regional administrative sectors. By bridging both the technical and legal dimensions of digital security, the programme sought to equip public officials with the competence and confidentiality required to navigate and mitigate emerging cyber threats effectively.

The significance of the workshop was highlighted by its robust attendance, drawing over 300 public officials from diverse government sectors. Key regional leaders, including the Secretary to the Provincial Ministry of Agriculture and the Deputy Secretary to the North Western Secretariat, were present throughout the sessions, underscoring the provincial administration's top down commitment to cyber resilience.

The program was spearheaded by the Director of the Defence Cyber Command, alongside a specialised elite team of expert DCC officers.

Recognising that theoretical awareness alone cannot stop a live network breach or a sophisticated phishing attempt, the DCC team structured the interactive two day event around comprehensive live demonstrations and hands on exercises. Public officials were given practical insight into how threat actors operate and how standard administrative workflows can be hardened against intrusion.

The training itinerary fused rigorous technical training with the critical legal frameworks necessary for modern public governance.

• National Resilience, AI/Quantum Threats, APTs & Adversary Behaviour
• Cyber Crime, Modus Operandi & Impact on Government Sectors
• Cyber Laws, Legal Frameworks & Institutional Accountability
• Cyber Security Best Practices, Zero Trust & Daily Digital Hygiene
• Risk Mitigation & Policy, Incident Reporting & Governance
• Live Attack Simulation, Phishing, Social Engineering & Malware
• Practical Device Security, Configuring MFA & Secure Settings
• Interactive Quiz, Gamified Knowledge Review

The event concluded with an open Q&A session, a collective feedback block, and a formal Vote of Thanks, marking a major step forward in the North Western Province's strategy to build a proactive, security first public sector capable of defending state assets against an increasingly complex digital landscape.