The alleged mastermind behind OnmaxDT, Gayan Wickramathilaka, who is accused of running an illegal pyramid scheme that defrauded thousands of Sri Lankans, has been arrested in Dubai while in hiding.
Wickramathilaka, who had been evading authorities for months, was apprehended following a Red Notice issued by Interpol at the request of the Sri Lankan Police. His arrest comes after an extensive international manhunt, as law enforcement agencies worked to track down those responsible for the OnmaxDT scam, which lured unsuspecting investors with fraudulent promises of high returns.
According to police sources, Wickramathilaka will be extradited to Sri Lanka today, where he will face multiple charges related to financial fraud, money laundering, and operating an unauthorized investment scheme. Legal experts anticipate that he could face severe penalties if convicted, as Sri Lankan authorities have intensified their crackdown on financial crimes.
The OnmaxDT scheme allegedly misled thousands of investors by promising them lucrative returns through what was marketed as a cryptocurrency and investment opportunity. However, investigations revealed that the platform operated as a classic Ponzi scheme, using new investors’ money to pay off older investors, leading to massive financial losses when the scheme eventually collapsed.
Victims of the scam, many of whom invested their life savings, have been calling for justice, urging authorities to recover their lost funds. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have been actively investigating similar unauthorized financial schemes, warning the public against falling prey to such fraudulent investment opportunities.
With Wickramathilaka now in custody, law enforcement officials are expected to question him regarding his accomplices, offshore accounts, and the total amount of funds involved in the scam. Further arrests and legal actions against other key figures linked to OnmaxDT may follow as authorities deepen their investigation.
