By: Isuru Parakrama
October 13, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has seen a significant rise in cybercrime, prompting local authorities to intensify international cooperation to combat this growing threat.
Criminals—primarily foreign nationals—are targeting local bank account holders, including professionals, through sophisticated scams aimed at siphoning funds overseas, according to Police Media Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa.
In response to the surge in cyber-related criminal activity, a team of 10 Chinese law enforcement officers recently arrived in Sri Lanka to assist local police.
Their presence follows a request made through diplomatic channels by Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Thalduwa emphasised that foreign nationals are behind the majority of cybercrimes in the country, with over 70 foreign individuals, mostly Chinese, arrested for their involvement.
Other cybercriminals apprehended in Sri Lanka include nationals from Malaysia and India.
A recent investigation highlights the international dimension of these crimes, as 20 Chinese nationals were questioned by local authorities for their involvement in financial fraud.
The rise in cybercrime underscores the need for national and global partnerships, as cybercriminals continue to exploit advanced technology to evade detection, even as financial institutions enhance their security systems.
Despite increased warnings from banks and cybersecurity experts, criminals are still able to bypass protective measures through phishing attacks and other technologically advanced methods.
Sri Lanka’s CID is now working to strengthen its legal frameworks while also building closer ties with global agencies such as Interpol and Europol to better address the international nature of these crimes.
The number of complaints regarding identity theft and stolen PINs has also risen sharply, reflecting growing vulnerabilities in the country’s expanding digital landscape, further stressing the need for continued vigilance and robust cybersecurity measures, according to an official from TechCERT, Sri Lanka’s Computer Emergency Response Team.
