By: Ovindi Vishmika
April 03, Colombo (LNW): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has apprehended three individuals, including two women, for their involvement in a significant financial fraud case at the Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation.
The suspects are accused of embezzling over Rs. 27 million by manipulating the corporation’s computer software system and issuing altered cheques.
The case was brought to the CID’s attention on March 20, 2025, when the General Manager of the Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation, located on Old Kottawa Road in Nawinna, Maharagama, filed a formal complaint. The complaint revealed that a total sum of LKR 27,031,024.15 was illegally obtained through fraudulent alterations in the corporation’s software system, which enabled the issuance of tampered cheques.
Following a thorough investigation, CID officers arrested the main suspect, a 35-year-old man from Kelaniya, along with two female accomplices, aged 25 and 32, also residents of Kelaniya. The arrests took place on April 1, 2025.
However,the suspects were presented before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court yesterday (April 2) where they were remanded in custody until April 11, 2025. The CID is continuing its investigation to uncover more details about the fraud and to determine whether other individuals are involved in the scheme.
The swift action taken by the CID has been commended, and authorities are urging other institutions to implement stricter security measures to protect against cyber fraud. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to bring all responsible parties to justice.
