Authorities in Sri Lanka are witnessing a sharp rise in cybercrime-related arrests as online scam networks appear to be shifting operations to the island nation following crackdowns across parts of Asia.
According to Sri Lankan police, more than 1,000 foreign nationals have been arrested in 2026 for alleged involvement in cybercrime activities. The figure marks a major jump from 430 arrests recorded in 2024. Officials said most of those arrested were from China, Vietnam and India.
The growing number of cases has raised concerns that scam groups previously operating from Cambodia, Myanmar and other Southeast Asian locations are relocating their operations to Sri Lanka.
These cyber fraud networks are known for running romance scams, fake investment schemes, job frauds and impersonation scams targeting victims in countries such as the United States and Australia. Human rights groups have also reported that some workers were trafficked into scam compounds after being promised legitimate jobs.
The rise comes as several Asian countries intensify action against organised cybercrime groups. Cambodian authorities, supported by international partners including China, the United States and Korea, have increased crackdowns on scam operations in recent months.
China’s embassy in Colombo said illegal cyber activities in Sri Lanka had increased after enforcement drives in Cambodia, Myanmar and the United Arab Emirates. “The Chinese government attaches great importance to this trend,” the embassy stated while promising closer cooperation with Sri Lankan authorities.
Sri Lankan officials recently intercepted 9 Chinese nationals accused of attempting to smuggle hundreds of used smartphones and laptops into the country. Authorities suspect the devices were intended for cyber fraud activities.
Police have also expanded raids across different regions. In one overnight operation in Galle and Matara, authorities arrested 192 Indian nationals and 29 Nepalese nationals. Another 280 foreign suspects were detained near Colombo, while 135 Chinese nationals were arrested earlier this year from a single scam centre.
Experts believe Sri Lanka’s tourism-friendly visa policies may be contributing to the shift. Citizens from several countries can enter Sri Lanka on free 30-day visas with extensions available for up to 6 months.
Analysts said cybercrime groups are increasingly moving towards smaller and more flexible operations instead of large scam compounds previously seen in Cambodia and Myanmar.
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