Sri Lankan authorities have arrested nearly 700 foreign nationals over cybercrime and illegal financial operations during the first five months of 2026, amid growing concerns over whether Sri Lanka is becoming a hub for cyber scams.
The most recent incident was reported on Thursday (7), when the Mount Lavinia Divisional Crimes Investigation Bureau arrested a group of 30 foreign nationals allegedly involved in cybercrime activities while overstaying their visas in the Boralesgamuwa area.
Police Spokesperson ASP F.U. Wootler said that foreign nationals involved in cyber fraud and money laundering activities would face prosecution under existing Sri Lankan laws.
“Foreigners involved in criminal activities, such as cybercrimes and illegal money laundering, will be prosecuted under existing laws. In 2026, from 1 January to date, approximately 700 foreign nationals have been arrested,” ASP Wootler told The Sunday Morning.
The first major operation was carried out on 23 February in Cinnamon Gardens, where 21 Chinese nationals were arrested. On 16 March, Police conducted coordinated raids across three hotels in Mihintale and Anuradhapura, resulting in the arrest of 133 Chinese nationals allegedly linked to organised cyber fraud activities.
On 20 March, authorities arrested 77 Indonesian nationals in Kochchikade, while a raid in Poddala on 24 March led to the arrest of 12 Vietnamese and five Chinese nationals.
Further raids conducted in Negombo on 27 March resulted in the arrest of 27 Chinese and Malaysian nationals in one operation, while a separate raid led to the apprehension of 16 Chinese nationals and two Cambodian nationals.
On 2 April, authorities arrested 133 Chinese nationals, 13 Vietnamese nationals, and one Malaysian national during a large-scale operation in Chilaw. Another raid carried out in Dungalpitiya on 22 April resulted in the arrest of 30 Chinese, Malaysian, and Indian nationals.
On 2 May, Police arrested 37 Chinese nationals in Koswatte, while a major operation at a residential complex in Kollupitiya led to the arrest of 74 Vietnamese nationals aged between 19 and 39, including 41 males and 33 females.
Concurrently, six Taiwanese and Chinese nationals aged between 25 and 40 were arrested during a separate operation at a hotel in Talalla, Matara.
Meanwhile, National Centre for Public Rights (NCPR) Convenor and Attorney-at-Law Rasanga Harischandra stated that Sri Lanka had experienced a rapid increase in crimes linked to computing systems, communications infrastructure, and digital payment platforms.
“Over the past several months, a rapid increase in crimes related to computing, communications, and payment systems has been observed in Sri Lanka. As a result, the following notable incidents have drawn significant attention: a loss of $ 2.5 million from the Treasury, a loss of $ 6 million from the Department of Posts, and a loss of Rs. 13 billion from a State bank and a commercial bank in which the Employees’ Provident Fund holds shares,” Harischandra said.
He further warned that the recent arrests demonstrated how Sri Lanka was increasingly being utilised as a base for transnational cybercrime operations.
“Furthermore, in the past few weeks, nearly 200 foreign nationals who entered Sri Lanka on tourist visas and were operating illegal cybercrime scam centres have been arrested and produced before courts. Notably, the Chinese Embassy has also issued a statement urging the Government to pay greater attention to this matter. All of these incidents indicate that Sri Lanka is increasingly becoming an international hub for cybercrime,” Harischandra observed.
He also highlighted the recent seizure of large quantities of communication equipment allegedly smuggled into the country through the airport, warning that such activities reflected the growing sophistication and logistical capabilities of international cybercrime syndicates.