Sri Lanka’s flagship economic project, the Colombo Port City, is reportedly being transformed into a regional hub for international cybercrime, according to a scathing warning issued by Member of Parliament Amila Prasad Siriwardana. During a recent parliamentary session, the lawmaker alleged that Chinese nationals are systematically exploiting business visas to establish a foothold within the special economic zone, from which they orchestrate large-scale digital fraud and regional cyber scams.
Speaking during a debate on the Bankruptcy Bill, Siriwardana revealed that hundreds of shell companies have been registered within the Port City. He contended that these entities are not legitimate commercial ventures but are instead fronts for illegal activities. He further criticized the government’s Ministry of Digital Infrastructure for failing to maintain a robust tracking system, noting that the state has been unable to even verify whether these companies are fulfilling their tax obligations. This lack of oversight, he argued, opens the door for foreign digital units to operate without accountability, placing honest local entrepreneurs at a severe disadvantage.
The lawmaker emphasized that the emergence of organized crime syndicates within the country’s borders poses a direct threat to national security and Sri Lanka’s international reputation. He warned that if the island becomes a “haven” for cybercriminals, it will struggle to attract reputable investors from Western and Asian markets. Furthermore, such illicit financial activities carry the risk of landing Sri Lanka back on international “Grey Lists” for money laundering and financial crimes, which would deal a devastating blow to the country’s ongoing efforts toward economic stabilization.
In light of these risks, Siriwardana called for an immediate joint investigation involving the Port City Commission, the Department of Immigration, and digital technology units. He urged the government to identify and deport those misusing visas, liquidate fraudulent shell companies, and install modern technological tools to monitor the zone’s digital space. He concluded that while foreign investment is vital, failing to distinguish between genuine business and international crime will turn the Port City into a center of global infamy rather than a national asset.