Digital Traces Identified in USD 2.5 Million Fraud: Deputy Minister Eranga
26-Apr-2026.
Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne stated that digital traces have been identified in connection with a USD 2.5 million financial fraud carried out using fake email addresses resembling those of an international organisation. He said it is believed that officials do not have direct involvement, though investigations are continuing.
Speaking to the media in Colombo on 25 April, he explained that since the funds were transferred to a specific bank account, authorities are able to digitally trace where the money went. He said investigations had begun several weeks ago and have now shown significant progress.
He added that authorities have a clearer understanding of what occurred, but require more time to confirm the findings, as money can be moved rapidly in the digital world. He warned that fraudsters often act without fear and may attempt to destroy evidence.
The Deputy Minister said cyberattacks on digital systems are common, and institutions must ensure proper safeguards. In this case, he noted that the fraud was not necessarily due to system intrusion, but rather due to criminals using a domain name and email address similar to that of the international organisation, and sending emails under the names of officials to mislead authorities.
He reiterated that it is currently assumed there was no direct internal involvement, and that the fraud occurred because staff failed to notice subtle email changes. Nevertheless, investigations continue, and only upon conclusion can authorities confirm who was involved and how long such fraud has been occurring.
He said the CID, Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT), and the Central Bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit are jointly acting swiftly, while the international organisation concerned is also assisting in tracing the funds.
He further stated that the Defence Ministry, Public Security Ministry and Finance Ministry have intervened, and awareness programmes are being conducted for public officials through the Digital Economy Ministry. He stressed that digitalisation depends on public trust, which requires continuous awareness and cybersecurity preparedness.
He also said a “National Cyber Security Operations Centre” has been established to monitor government digital systems around the clock. Twelve institutions have already joined, and more will be added. Modern software has been introduced to detect intrusion threats early, and consultations are ongoing with the President and the Secretary to the Finance Ministry.
He expressed confidence that since the funds moved through the banking system, recovery may be possible through international cooperation. He concluded that while opposition parties may criticise using technical terms, investigations must remain partly confidential to prevent criminals from tampering with evidence, and several new findings are currently being legally verified.
