Commander Nirosh Ananda (Retd.) is a seasoned cybersecurity strategist and leader currently serving as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Sri Lanka CERT CC. With a distinguished career that seamlessly blends military discipline with high level corporate and state information security governance, he has established himself as a pivotal figure in Sri Lankan digital defense landscape.
Nirosh’s professional foundation is rooted in his extensive service with the Sri Lanka Navy, where he retired with the rank of Commander. During his tenure, he held critical leadership positions that shaped the naval IT infrastructure. He served as the Deputy Director of Naval Information Technology, overseeing both Systems and Utility sectors. His operational expertise was further demonstrated as the Manager of Engineering Cyber Security and the Command Information Technology Officer for the Western Naval Command. Beyond technical operations, he contributed to workforce development as the Officer In Charge of the Information Technology School at the Naval & Maritime Academy.
Transitioning from military service, Nirosh brought his strategic acumen to the private sector. He served as the Group IT Manager for the WatchGuard Group of Companies and later as the Vice President of Information Security & Technical Head of Infrastructure Solutions at Informatics International Limited. Currently, as the CISO of Sri Lanka CERT CC, he plays a central role in safeguarding the nation’s information assets.
Nirosh supports his practical experience with a robust academic portfolio. He holds a Master of Business Administration in e Governance from the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU). Additionally, he possesses two Master of Science degrees from Asia eUniversity, Malaysia, one in Information Security and another in Human Resource Management . His undergraduate foundation was laid with a Bachelor of Information Technology from the University of Colombo School of Computing.
Uniquely, Nirosh has expanded his expertise beyond technology into international relations, holding diplomas in Diplomacy and World Affairs as well as Creative Diplomacy . His technical proficiency is validated by top-tier certifications, including Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI), and Project Management Professional (PMP), alongside being an ISO 27001:2013 Lead Auditor
Nirosh actively shapes the next generation of IT professionals. He is a visiting lecturer at several prestigious institutions, including IIT Campus, CICRA Campus, ANC Education, and SLIDA . His teaching repertoire is extensive, covering specialized subjects such as Advanced Ethical Hacking, Computer Forensics, IoT Security, and Enterprise Security Governance.
Nirosh Ananda remains an active member of the professional community, maintaining memberships with the Computer Society of Sri Lanka, the Internet Society (Sri Lanka Chapter), and the Project Management Institute. His career stands as a testament to the powerful convergence of military precision, academic rigor, and strategic leadership in the field of cybersecurity.