Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Office of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has issued a special statement warning the public about fraudulent cryptocurrency advertisements being promoted on social media.
According to the statement, foreign entities are deliberately using the names of Dr. Amarasuriya and other prominent Sri Lankan figures to mislead the public and erode trust. Investigations have revealed that these deceptive ads are being run by fraudulent accounts based in Lithuania, primarily targeting Sri Lankan Facebook users.
The scam has also misused the names of Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Minister of Science and Technology MP Krishantha Abeysena, journalists Amantha Perera and Sunanda Deshapriya, and several other Sri Lankan celebrities in previous incidents.
Authorities have reiterated that neither the government nor its officials have endorsed any cryptocurrency investment scheme. Despite repeated efforts to report and remove these misleading advertisements, they continue to appear on social media, raising concerns about Facebook’s ability to curb financial fraud effectively.
The Sri Lankan government has urged Meta, Facebook’s parent company, to take immediate and stringent action against these fraudulent campaigns. Meanwhile, the public is advised to remain cautious, avoid engaging with suspicious ads, and report any misleading promotions directly to social media platforms. Officials also stress the importance of verifying financial opportunities through trusted sources before making any investments.
