October 10, Colombo (LNW): The Panadura Additional Magistrate ordered that the twenty Chinese nationals arrested yesterday (09) in a hotel in Gorakana area be remanded till October 23.
The suspects were arrested by Panadura North Police on a tip off by intelligence officials of the Western Province.
Investigations are underway to decipher any corroboration between the organised online money fraud activities allegedly committed by Chinese nationals resided in Hanwella area arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Chinese nationals arrested yesterday, a statement issued by the Police Media Division claimed.
This was not the first time did the Police arrest foreign nationals living in Sri Lanka on tourist visa, as an astonishing number of Chinese nationals had been apprehended during the past few months, allegedly in connection with the online offshore industry.
Reports claim that these Chinese nationals had arrived in Sri Lanka to gamble in the “online offshore gaming industry”, which caters to the generation of a significant number of economic opportunities for Sri Lanka, estimating a potential US$ 6 billion income annually.
The industry, which in official capacity has not yet been recognised nor subject to a legal framework, remains disputable, and the formulation of a legal framework, therefore, is deemed a mandatory requirement, in the event that the country in which such activities are operated can economically benefit from the industry.
Developing an effective legal framework and implementing such regulations will curb any harmful consequences the industry might emit, and by cracking down any illegal operations involving the arena, Sri Lanka will be able to secure the online offshore gaming industry and foster more career opportunities for the local community, ultimately contributing to the island nation’s economy.
The offshore gaming industry is compelled to be cluttered with online frauds due to the non-implementation of a formal legal framework, driving the Police and government officials in charge of Immigration and Taxes, therefore, into confusion.
Projects of this nature particularly targetting the Port City, Colombo, have already attracted a large number of foreign investors to Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lankan authorities, therefore, must act immediately to foster a proper legal framework for the aforementioned industry.
