Sri Lanka Police have arrested 17 foreign nationals in two separate raids this week for allegedly staying in the country without valid visas.

On Thursday (14), a team from the Panadura Walana Central Strike Unit raided a hotel in the Waskaduwa area under the Kalutara North Police Division. 

Fourteen foreign nationals were taken into custody, including 12 Chinese nationals aged between 22 and 56 years and two Malaysian nationals.

Meanwhile, officers from the Trincomalee Police Station raided a hotel in the Murugaripuri area of the Trincomalee Police Division yesterday, arresting three Indian nationals aged 49 and 50 years for similar visa violations.

The Police said further investigations into both incidents are being carried out by the Kalutara North Police and the Trincomalee Police, respectively. (Newswire/ File Pic)

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Sri Lanka Police have urged the public to immediately notify the nearest police station if groups of Chinese, Vietnamese, or Myanmar nationals are found residing suspiciously in apartments, houses or hotels. 

The alert comes amid a series of raids in recent days that uncovered large numbers of foreign nationals allegedly engaged in cybercrimes across Colombo and its suburbs.

On May 7, acting on information from a private informant, the Mount Lavinia Division Criminal Investigation Unit arrested 30 foreign nationals from a rented house in the Boralesgamuwa Police Division.

Police seized equipment used for computer crimes, including five computers, 26 mobile phones, and five Wi‑Fi routers. Among those arrested were 21 Chinese nationals, including three women, and nine Vietnamese nationals. 

Investigations revealed links to the group of 150 Chinese and Vietnamese nationals arrested earlier on April 2 by the Criminal Investigation Department.

Just a day earlier, on May 6, the Colpetty Police arrested 74 foreign nationals suspected of committing cybercrimes while violating visa conditions.

On May 2, officers from the Walana Central Anti‑Corruption Strike Unit, together with Thalangama Police, arrested 36 foreign men and one woman in Thalangama for offences under the Computer Crimes Act. The suspects were Chinese nationals aged between 23 and 44 years.

That same day, Welikada Police raided a housing complex on Rajagiriya Welikada Road, arresting 120 foreign nationals from Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, Maldives, Romania, and Thailand, who were allegedly engaged in computer crimes.

Information leading to these raids was provided by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Nugegoda, and the Director of the Environmental Protection Division.

Police stations have been producing the suspects before the court, while the Criminal Investigation Department and its Computer Crimes Investigation Division continue further investigations. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police have arrested 628 foreign nationals across the country since January 1, 2026, for engaging in illegal activities ranging from immigration violations to cybercrimes, Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said.

Addressing the media yesterday (05), ASP Wootler said that the suspects, hailing from India, Vietnam, China, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Cambodia, were apprehended in operations conducted in Cinnamon Gardens, Mount Lavinia, Poddala, Chilaw, and Koswatte.

ASP Wootler noted that many of the arrested individuals had been operating from rented houses, apartments, and office spaces, warning that property owners could also face legal consequences if premises are used for unlawful purposes.

“We urge owners of houses, apartments, and office spaces to keep the nearest Police Station informed when renting to foreign nationals, providing details regarding the visitors,” he said. 

“If not checked, some foreign nationals are found to be engaging in illegal activities from the rented spaces, and this could lead to the owner of the premises also being identified as complicit in the case,” he warned.

He further requested that the public exercise caution when renting to foreign nationals, stressing that vigilance is essential to curb illegal activity and protect landlords from liability. (Newswire)

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