Man arrested for impersonating 17 prominent figures in online scam

2026-03-24 - 02:24

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a man charged with carrying out large-scale financial fraud by impersonating senior government ministers, journalists, prominent monks, and artistes. The arrest followed an investigation by the CID’s Computer Crime Investigation Unit. The Investigation triggered after a senior government minister lodged a complaint alleging that an individual, posing as him, was making calls to solicit money under the guise of social welfare activities. Investigators discovered that the suspect had been working in Dubai and, following coordination with Interpol, a blue notice was issued against him. Unaware of the notice, the suspect returned to Sri Lanka on March 21 and was immediately arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, by CID officers and handed over to the Computer Crime Investigation Unit for questioning. Interrogations revealed that the suspect, a 33-year-old resident of Kandy, had been working in Dubai for 02 years, was involved in online gambling, and committed the fraud to generate money. He allegedly imitated the voices of prominent figures, including the Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development – Sunil Handunnetthi, Minister of Health and Mass Media – Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Journalists Chathura Alwis and Hasitha Wijewardena, among others. Meanwhile, the suspect has been remanded until March 27 after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.