The Sri Lanka Police has requested the public to provide any information regarding offences committed by a suspect involved in a major gold fraud.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) initiated an investigation based on a complaint made on February 11, 2025, alleging that a resident of Lewis Mawatha, Kelaniya, had taken money to purchase gold items but failed to deliver them. 

The complainant stated that the suspect had claimed he could provide 3½ kilograms of gold, obtained Rs. 50 million, and later deceived him by handing over two pieces of iron coated with gold.

The suspect has been identified as Lokubadaturuge Mahesh Vinthaka De Silva, residing at No. 341, 11th Lane, Wilbawa, Kurunegala, bearing National ID No. 198621302653. 

Investigations revealed that he had been deceiving people by posing as a Lieutenant Commander in the Sri Lanka Navy using a forged identification document.

The CID arrested the suspect on December 23, 2025, produced him before the Mahara Magistrate’s Court, and he was subsequently remanded. 

To date, two complaints of fraud committed in this manner have been reported against him, and authorities stress the need to gather further information on whether he has engaged in similar offences.

As such, the Police have requested the public with related complaints to contact the hotlines 03-011-2395371 or 03- 071-8594915. (Newswire)

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Sri Lankan MP Muhammed Hizbullah says he had not been defrauded of $2 million in a fake gold deal in Ghana, clarifying that no monetary transaction had taken place during a business trip to the country. 

Addressing the media, MP Muhammed Hizbullah revealed he had accompanied three Saudi Businessmen as their advisor for a gold deal in Ghana. 

“The deal was to legally purchase gold in Ghana and deposit the money into the bank account of the seller. During the negotiation with the Ghanaian party, they requested that we provide the money to obtain the gold. However, we told them to bring the gold to us at the hotel where we were staying, after which the money would be transferred. Twice, the Ghanaian party cheated us by not doing so,” he said. 

MP Muhammed Hizbullah said that, as such, he informed the National Security Council in Ghana, which conducted a raid and arrested the fraudulent individuals. 

Commenting on reports that he had been defrauded of US$ 2 million in the incident, MP Muhammed Hizbullah refuted such claims, stating no monetary transaction had taken place.

“Many are questioning how I owned US$ 2 million, the source of the money, and how I had taken it to Ghana. Reports in this regard on social media are false. I did not spend even a single Rupee or Dollar. All my expenses, including the flight ticket, hotel, and travel expenses, were taken care of by the Saudi businessmen. I only accompanied them as an advisor,” he said. 

MP Muhammed Hizbullah reiterated that he had not given even one Dollar to anyone and had not suffered any loss as claimed in certain media reports.

His comments come after Ghanaian media reported that a court in Accra has granted bail to 11 people accused of defrauding Sri Lankan lawmaker Muhammed Hizbullah of $2 million in a fake gold deal.

Prosecutors told the court that the suspects conspired in 2023 to defraud Hizbullah, a Member of Parliament from Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, by claiming they could supply large quantities of gold. 

After receiving the payment, the group allegedly failed to deliver and later attempted to re-engage the MP with another 50-kilogram gold offer, backed by a memorandum of understanding.

The suspects were arrested on October 16 in Accra during a national security operation. (Newswire)

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Although Sri Lankan Parliamentarian Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah accepts that he had lodged a complaint with authorities in Ghana over an attempted gold scam, he has clarified that he was not deceived or defrauded in the deal.

His statement follows reports by several Ghanaian media outlets, including Ghana’s main news agency, which claimed that a Sri Lankan MP had fallen victim to a USD 2 million gold fraud. The reports stated that the Accra Circuit Court had granted bail to 11 suspects accused of orchestrating the scam.

Ghanaian media reports further alleged that the Sri Lankan MP had made a payment but did not receive the promised gold.

In a clarification issued by his Media Division, Dr. Hizbullah rejected these claims as “completely false and politically motivated,” insisting there is no truth to the suggestion that he was duped in the deal.

According to the statement, Dr. Hizbullah had travelled to Ghana with Saudi Arabian business associates for legitimate business purposes. During the visit, he discovered that certain individuals were attempting to carry out a fraudulent act and promptly alerted the Ghanaian security authorities.

The police subsequently arrested 11 individuals in connection with the attempted fraud.

“We once again emphasize that Dr. Hizbullah has no connection whatsoever with this incident,” the statement said, expressing regret that “false and misleading information is being spread for political motives.” (Newswire)

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