Police have arrested four managers from private commercial banks as part of an investigation into an alleged scheme where a money changer transferred USD 1 billion overseas without corresponding imports into Sri Lanka.
The Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) has taken four bank managers into custody in connection with a major foreign currency probe. According to law enforcement, the arrests stem from an incident involving a money changer based in Colombo Fort who allegedly transferred USD 1 billion outside the country without importing goods to Sri Lanka as would typically accompany such transactions.
Investigators believe the large sum was moved through multiple banking channels, with the arrested managers allegedly facilitating the transfers. According to Ada Derana, all four managers were arrested at their respective banks, marking what authorities describe as the first time such arrests have been made in Sri Lanka in connection with this type of offense.
According to Ada Derana's reporting, the investigation has uncovered a pattern of payments from the primary suspect to the four bank managers. Three of the officials reportedly received weekly payments ranging from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 100,000, while one manager allegedly received approximately Rs. 1 million on a single occasion. These payments are believed to have been made in exchange for facilitating the currency transfers.
The FCID and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) continue their inquiries into the case to establish the full scope of the operation and determine additional individuals or entities that may have been involved in the scheme.
