Sri Lankan authorities have expanded their crackdown on cybercrime operations, arresting 221 foreign nationals in the Southern Province over suspected involvement in international online fraud networks.
Police said the arrested individuals included 192 Indians and 29 Nepalis, who were allegedly operating cyber fraud syndicates while misusing tourist visas. The raids were carried out between May 11 and 12 across Galle, Hikkaduwa, and Midigama.
During the operation, officials seized more than 90 computers and 230 mobile phones believed to have been used in fraudulent activities.
With the latest arrests, the total number of foreigners detained in Sri Lanka’s ongoing cybercrime crackdown this year has reached 600. Authorities said the majority of those arrested so far are Chinese nationals.
In another recent operation on May 9, police arrested 19 Chinese nationals from a suspected cyber scam centre operating from a luxury apartment in Colombo. Earlier, on May 2, officials raided a rented house in Talangama near Colombo and arrested 37 Chinese nationals. On March 16, coordinated raids across hotels in Mihintale and Anuradhapura led to the arrest of 133 Chinese nationals, while 21 more were detained in Colombo on Feb. 23.
Police also recovered laptops, computers, mobile phones, and SIM cards during the raids conducted by the Walana Central Anti-Vice Striking Force.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Rohan Olugala said, “Once we arrest them, we hand them over to the Criminal Investigation Department for further investigations.”
Investigators found that several groups were allegedly using Sri Lanka’s visa-on-arrival scheme to enter the country before renting hotels and villas to run online scam operations.
Authorities confirmed that 125 Chinese nationals arrested for online financial fraud had already been deported by March 30 using a special aircraft sent from China.
Police have now advised property owners to remain alert while renting out properties, warning that criminals may misuse them for illegal activities.
Cybersecurity expert Asela Waidyalankara said many cybercrime groups are shifting to tourist-friendly countries after crackdowns in Thailand and Cambodia. He added that Sri Lanka’s strong internet connectivity and digital nomad initiatives may have unintentionally attracted such operations.
“The Sri Lankan government should focus on online surveillance, intelligence sharing, and digital forensic capabilities to address these challenges in the future,” Waidyalankara added.
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