Privacy Policy - Lanka Data Foundation

1. Our Core Principle: Focusing on Publicly Accessible Data

Lanka Data Foundation's primary work involves the collection, analysis, organization, and presentation of data that is already publicly accessible and lawfully obtained from public sources. This includes, but is not limited to, government reports, open data portals, public records, academic research, and other widely available datasets.

We do not actively seek or collect private personal information directly from individuals for our core data aggregation and analysis activities. Our focus is on macro-level trends, statistics, and information that contributes to public understanding and knowledge.

2. Information We Handle (Primarily Public Data)

The data we process is, by its nature, intended for public consumption. While this data may sometimes contain aggregated or statistical information related to individuals (e.g., population demographics from census data), it is obtained from sources where it has already been made public.

3. How We Collect and Use Information (Public Data)

Collection from Public Sources:

We gather data from a variety of public domains and sources, including:

Government ministries and departments (e.g., Census and Statistics Department)
Publicly funded research institutions
International organizations' public databases
News archives and public media
Open data initiatives and portals

Analysis and Organization:

We process this public data to identify patterns, extract insights, verify information, and present it in a more digestible and user-friendly format (e.g., through visualizations, reports, articles). Our goal is to make complex public information more accessible and understandable for the general public, researchers, policymakers, and media.

Facilitating Access:

We aim to be a resource that makes it easier for the public to find, comprehend, and utilize existing public data that might otherwise be difficult to locate or interpret.

4. Our Website and User Interactions (Limited Personal Data Collection)

While our core work involves public data, our website and communication channels may involve limited collection of personal information from individuals who interact with us directly. This applies to:

Communication Data:

If you contact us via email, through our website contact forms, or by other means, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message to respond to your inquiries and provide support.

Newsletter Subscriptions:

If you choose to subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address to send you updates about our work, new data releases, and relevant insights. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link provided in the email.

Website Usage Data (Analytics):

We may use analytics services (like Google Analytics) to understand how our website is used. This data is typically aggregated and anonymized and may include your IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and time spent on our site. This helps us improve our website's functionality and content.

Cookies:

Our website may use "cookies" to enhance your browser experience. These are small text files placed on your device. You can set your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, some website features may not function properly without cookies.

5. How We Use the Limited Personal Information We Collect Directly

We use the limited personal information collected directly from you for the following purposes:

To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support.
To send you newsletters and updates, where you have subscribed.
To monitor and analyze website usage and improve our services.
To maintain the security and integrity of our website.

6. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

Public Data:

The analyses, visualizations, and reports derived from publicly accessible data are intended for public dissemination and sharing.

Limited Personal Data:

We do not sell, rent, or trade any personal information we collect directly from you. We may share this information with:

Service Providers: Third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website, managing our communications (e.g., email service providers), or performing analytics. These providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and are only permitted to use your information for the purposes of providing services to us.
Legal Compliance: We may disclose information if required to do so by law, in response to a court order or subpoena, or if we believe such action is necessary to comply with legal obligations, protect our rights or property, or ensure the safety of our users or the public.
Aggregate/Anonymized Data: We may share aggregated or anonymized data (which cannot be used to identify you personally) with partners, researchers, or the public for various purposes, such as reporting on website trends or demonstrating the impact of our work.

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect the personal information we collect directly from you from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or destruction. However, no internet transmission or electronic storage method is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Regarding any limited personal data we may hold about you (e.g., your email for newsletters), you have the following rights:

Access:

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you.
Correction:

You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
Deletion:

You have the right to request the deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions.
Opt‑Out:

You can opt‑out of receiving our newsletters or marketing communications at any time by following the unsubscribe link in our emails.
Cookie Preferences:

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information as quickly as possible.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will post the revised policy on this page with an updated "Effective Date." We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at: contact@datafoundation.lk