By The Pulseline News Desk
Sri Lankan authorities have intensified their crackdown on online financial scams, arresting 1,093 foreign nationals in 2026 in connection with 27 cybercrime incidents, as social media-based fraud continues to emerge as a growing threat.
According to Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler, the number of foreign suspects arrested this year represents a significant increase compared to 2025, when only 26 foreign nationals were arrested in connection with two cybercrime incidents.
However, the latest figure is closer to the level recorded in 2024, when police arrested 573 foreign nationals in connection with 26 incidents.
The sharp rise in arrests comes amid intensified police raids, investigations and public awareness programmes targeting scams carried out through social media and other online platforms.
Wootler has said both Sri Lankan citizens and foreign nationals have fallen victim to such schemes, prompting authorities to strengthen enforcement measures against those operating fraudulent networks in the country.
Authorities have also moved to deport foreign suspects as part of efforts to dismantle networks involved in online financial crimes.
The Police Spokesman has stressed that the Government remains determined to prevent criminals from exploiting social media and digital platforms to defraud members of the public.
The growing number of cases has also placed greater responsibility on property owners and businesses that provide accommodation or premises to foreign nationals.
Wootler has urged landlords and property owners to exercise greater caution when renting houses, hotels or business premises to foreigners, particularly where such premises could potentially be used for illegal activities.
He has advised property owners to verify the identities and activities of prospective foreign tenants, including checking relevant business registrations and notifying the nearest police station.
The police have increasingly focused on the role of physical premises in facilitating cybercrime operations, as fraud networks often require accommodation, offices and other locations from which to conduct online activities.
The latest figures highlight the increasingly international nature of cybercrime in Sri Lanka, with authorities now confronting organised groups that can operate across borders while targeting victims through seemingly legitimate social media accounts and online platforms.
With online financial scams becoming more sophisticated, police are also urging the public to remain vigilant when dealing with unsolicited online offers, investment opportunities, business proposals and requests for financial information.
The authorities’ latest enforcement drive signals a broader shift towards tackling cybercrime not only through arrests, but also by disrupting the networks, premises and support systems that enable such operations to function within Sri Lanka.
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