Aaron’s six wickets help S. Thomas’ take first innings lead
Matt Henry six-for and Will Young hundred crush India
Diyansa, Lihini reach U18 girls final
CDB and HNB ‘A’ clash in final today
Maris Stella and Nimala Maria Convent emerge overall champions
Sri Lanka is emerging as a possible new operational base for transnational cyber-scam networks, amid a sharp increase in raids targeting foreign nationals suspected of involvement in online fraud, according to law-enforcement data and regional analysis by East Asia Forum (EAF).
An EAF report by Junqing Zhang, a postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, said that Sri Lankan authorities have conducted more than a dozen raids on suspected cyber-fraud operations since the beginning of the year, arresting or deporting hundreds of foreign nationals, many of whom had entered the country on tourist visas.
Police reported in August that 1,093 foreign nationals had been arrested in cybercrime raids in Sri Lanka in 2026, compared with 573 arrests recorded throughout 2024. Several operations have been conducted in the western coastal areas, with suspects including Chinese, Indian and other Southeast Asian nationals.
The increase comes amid intensified crackdowns on large-scale scam compounds in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos, many of which have been linked to Chinese-speaking criminal networks. Chinese authorities have also expanded joint operations, repatriations and judicial cooperation with governments across Southeast Asia as part of a broader campaign against online fraud.
However, the increase in scam activity in Sri Lanka does not by itself establish that criminal networks have relocated directly from Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka may instead be emerging as one of several destinations in a wider regional displacement of cybercrime operations.
The mobility of such networks was highlighted in April, when Sri Lankan authorities intercepted nine Chinese nationals arriving from Kunming who were reportedly carrying hundreds of electronic devices. The incident followed another operation in which more than 150 foreign nationals were detained over alleged online fraud.
Chinese authorities have publicly supported Sri Lankan investigations into such cases, reflecting growing concern over overseas scam operations, involving Chinese nationals.
Unlike the large compounds that have attracted attention in Southeast Asia, scam operations can increasingly be organised through smaller teams operating from multiple locations. This decentralised model makes them more difficult for authorities to detect and dismantle.
Sri Lanka offers several factors that could facilitate such temporary operations, including relatively accessible tourist and digital-nomad visas, comparatively low accommodation and office costs, telecommunications infrastructure and established cross-border financial networks. Its geographical position between South and Southeast Asia also makes it attractive to mobile criminal groups.
Authorities, however, face the challenge of moving beyond raids and arrests of frontline operators. Immigration monitoring, financial investigations, telecommunications regulation and cybercrime investigations need to be better coordinated to identify the organisers and financial networks behind such operations.
Law-enforcement agencies also need to distinguish between organised crime suspects and possible trafficking victims. International investigations have found that some people working in online scam operations in Southeast Asia were recruited through deception or coercion and subsequently forced to participate in criminal activities.
The growing presence of transnational scam networks could also have wider implications for Sri Lanka, including risks to its tourism and investment reputation, financial system and already stretched law-enforcement resources.
Experts have increasingly warned that enforcement action in one country can push scam networks into other jurisdictions rather than eliminate them. Sri Lanka’s experience, therefore, highlights the need for greater regional intelligence-sharing, coordinated financial investigations and cooperation on digital evidence if the networks behind online scams are to be dismantled rather than merely displaced.
All News Advertisement Related Topics: Up Next Namal further remanded
Kush, hashish seized in courier haul
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Leaders of the United States, China and Russia are set to hold an unprecedented three-way meeting next week, the White House has said.
US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China’s tech hub, the White House assistant press secretary confirmed in an announcement.
The talks will be held nine months after the last nuclear arms treaty between Washington and Moscow expired, leaving the world’s two countries with the largest atomic arsenals without caps for the first time in more than 50 years.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday said that kissing Kawanthissa, the deceased tusker, was worthier than kissing the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Speaking in Parliament, Premadasa criticised the Government’s relationship with international financial institutions, including the IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB), while raising concerns over the country’s poverty levels.
Referring to a 2025 World Bank report, he said 61.1% of Sri Lanka’s population was estimated to be living on less than US$8.30 a day in 2025.
Premadasa questioned the Government’s approach towards international financial institutions, saying the IMF, World Bank and ADB were among the institutions that the Government preferred to “kiss and hug”.
During his speech, he produced a document carrying a photograph of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya greeting the then IMF chief with an embrace.
“I shouldn’t be showing this against the Prime Minister, but here’s an image of you kissing. That’s fine; it’s the normal way of greeting someone,” he said.
Referring to criticism over his widely publicised gesture of kissing Kawanthissa, Premadasa said Government members had failed to understand the significance of the gesture.
He maintained that showing affection towards the deceased tusker was more meaningful and worthy than such gestures towards the IMF chief.
Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera and six others were remanded until November 26 by the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday over a confrontation at a protest site near the historic Ruwanwelisaya.
The seven suspects, including four Buddhist monks and three civilians, were arrested following a clash on Thursday (12) between two groups at the site.
They were produced before Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickramaratne on charges of assaulting and injuring Rajanganaye Saddharathana Thera and obstructing police duties.
Saddharathana Thera sustained head injuries during the confrontation and was admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.
The suspects had been staging a fast-unto-death protest near the Ruwanwelisaya in opposition to the proposed Anuradhapura Sacred City Development Plan and demanding the release of Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera.
Police said the group had continued the protest despite previous court orders to vacate the area.
The Chief Magistrate, who visited the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital to inspect the monks and civilians receiving treatment, ordered that all seven suspects undergo drug tests and that a report be submitted to court.
The Magistrate also ordered that a psychiatric medical report be obtained concerning Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera.Police Spokesperson ASP F.U. Wootler said two women were among the civilians arrested in connection with the incident.
The Magistrate further directed Anuradhapura Headquarters Police to produce Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera before the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court in connection with an arrest warrant issued after he failed to appear for a case there on November 11, and subsequently report back to the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court.
Police took the suspects into custody following the confrontation between the group led by Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera and another group led by Rajanganaye Saddharathana.
Continue Reading Latest Trending Foreign News 4 hours ago Measles-associated deaths reach 10 in US after two more deaths reported News 4 hours ago Trump, Xi and Putin to hold first three-way summit in China Weather 8 hours ago Showers will occur in the Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces Sports 8 hours ago Aaron’s six wickets help S. Thomas’ take first innings lead News 10 hours ago Kissing Kawanthissa worthier than embracing IMF Chief, says Sajith News 10 hours ago Seven remanded over Ruwanwelisaya clash News 5 years ago ‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’ News 6 years ago Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines News 6 years ago #SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines News 6 years ago Sunday Island – 28th March News 6 years ago Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March News 6 years ago Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines Trending Features 6 days ago Sarojini Kadirgamar –a lady for all seasons
Why the Jaffna Man Eats So Much Murunga
GMOA seeks restoration of duty-free vehicle permits
Sri Lankan Airlines loss amplified to Rs35Bn by monetary debasement
Government makes charity difficult in Sri Lanka – Pethiyagoda
Iran allows ship carrying fertiliser for SL to pass Strait of Hormuz
Failure to heed PM’s directive worsened Colombo floods: Patali
When preachers and sinners switch roles
Copyright © 2020 Upali Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd. Solution by LankaCom Privacy Policy
Loading comments…