The Sri Lankan government, under the leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, introduced a free visa policy for several countries, including India and China, allowing easier entry into the country. However, this policy has reportedly been exploited by cybercriminals, particularly from China. According to sources, Sri Lanka has become a target for Chinese cybercriminals taking advantage of this visa system. It is suspected that Chinese workers who arrived in the country during former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration may have identified Sri Lanka as a potential hub for cyber-related criminal activities. Prior to the free visa scheme, entering Sri Lanka was more difficult, limiting access for these criminals. The move to offer free visas, some say, has made it easier for cybercriminals to infiltrate the country.
Sri Lankan authorities, including the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), have apprehended 332 international cybercriminals involved in massive financial frauds. These criminals primarily operated by forming fake romantic relationships and friendships online, luring unsuspecting victims to send them money. The cybercrime rings operated across five provinces in the country, and due to the complicity of local individuals receiving financial benefits, information about these activities had initially been difficult to uncover. However, the Secret Police have now obtained substantial evidence related to these scams.
These international cybercriminals have been active in Sri Lanka since August last year. In an operation conducted on the 6th of this month, the Secret Police arrested a group of foreigners engaged in systematic online fraud. The arrests were made at two locations: a hotel on Hanwella Road in Gampaha and a private establishment on Avissawella Road, Hanwella. Among the suspects were 29 Chinese men, one Chinese woman, one Indian man, three Indian women, two Thai men, and four Thai women.
The CID seized 499 mobile phones, 24 laptops, and 29 desktop computers used to commit financial fraud. Investigations revealed that the criminals tricked victims—mostly from China, Indonesia, Thailand, and other South Asian countries—into investing in fake online businesses. These operations were carried out via pre-recorded phone calls, messages, and conversations in various languages. The CID’s forensic laboratory is currently analyzing the confiscated equipment for further information.
It has also come to light that the cybercriminals’ operations are linked to camps in Myanmar and Thailand. Investigations carried out from August 2024 onwards have uncovered their connections to ongoing scams within Sri Lanka. International police organizations, including Interpol and Europol, are assisting in the investigation.
In a subsequent operation on the 8th of this month, the police raided a hotel in Gorakana, Keselwatte, Panadura North, arresting 20 foreigners who were residing without visas. The group consisted of Chinese nationals aged between 22 and 49. Officers seized 442 mobile phones, 19 routers, multiple computers, and a range of other electronic devices used for fraudulent activities. Authorities are investigating whether these individuals had ties to the suspects arrested in Hanwella.
On the 12th of this month, another major operation led to the arrest of 129 Chinese nationals in a hotel in Pallekele, Kundasale. The police seized over 100 laptops and numerous mobile phones. Investigations revealed that the suspects had booked 47 hotel rooms and converted the banquet hall into an operational center with computers. A Sri Lankan national suspected of coordinating these cybercrimes is also under investigation. This case has been handed over to the Secret Police by order of the Acting Inspector General of Police.
Additionally, a fourth operation was carried out on the 13th, leading to the arrest of 15 Chinese men and one woman at a hotel in Aniwatta, Kandy. The authorities are continuing their investigations into these cybercriminal networks with the cooperation of international law enforcement agencies.
