The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested 58 local individuals connected to online financial fraud at a luxury housing complex on Havelock Road, Wellawatte. While foreigners have previously been apprehended for similar cybercrimes, it is significant that all 58 suspects in this case are Sri Lankans, according to the Police.
The CID’s Computer Crime Investigation Unit began this investigation following information received from a foreign embassy. Acting on this intelligence, investigators conducted a raid on the location yesterday afternoon, leading to the arrest of 58 suspects, all of whom were identified as Sri Lankan nationals.
Police Central Spokesperson Nihal Thalduwa elaborated on the case, stating, “We received a complaint from a foreign embassy that a group had fraudulently extracted nearly 300 million Sri Lankan rupees from a Korean national residing in Korea. Following this complaint, we conducted an inspection and obtained a search warrant from the Honorable Court, allowing CID officers to raid the premises yesterday. The location was being rented at a cost exceeding 9 million rupees. Investigators discovered that the business, operating under the name Viv Tech Ceylon Private Limited, was posing as a private company to facilitate online fraud.”
“During the operation on the 8th, we arrested a 52-year-old woman from Colombo 07, who was acting as a director of the company. A 40-year-old man from Ragama was also arrested, identified as the company’s manager. These two appear to have played significant roles in running the operation. Several others involved in the scheme hold various positions, and further arrests are underway.”
Thalduwa added, “It appears these activities were being conducted under the guidance of certain foreign nationals or an overseas-based group, specifically targeting individuals living abroad.”
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