Minister Sunil Handuneththi has lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding a group impersonating him to solicit funds for fake community service projects.
Speaking to the media, the Minister revealed that friends and associates of his in Japan, South Korea, and the UK were contacted via WhatsApp.
“First they take an unclear video call which lasts around 16 seconds, and several bank accounts have been used in this scam. They are fearlessly using my image, voice, and technology to deceive people,” the Minister said.
Handuneththi urged Sri Lankan expatriates to refrain from contributing to these scams, stressing that neither he nor the government solicits funds in this manner. “If we seek funds, it is only through responsible organizations,” he said.
Handuneththi also disclosed that his signature, the official Parliament letterhead, and seal had been forged to promote a fake Zoom discussion scheduled for January 5, 2025.
The Minister has called on the CID to conduct a thorough investigation and enforce the law against the scammers. He appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information or who may have fallen victim to the scam to report their experiences.
“If anyone has donated funds to these fraudulent schemes, we encourage them to come forward and share their information so it can be included in the investigation,” he said.
“If they are bold enough to impersonate public representatives in this manner, one can only imagine the extent to which they might be deceiving the public. It is imperative that the law is enforced against such fraudsters to prevent further exploitation,” he added.
