By Roy Denish
Investigators examining suspected vehicle registration fraud at Sri Lanka’s Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) have reportedly secured a digital copy of the department’s central database for forensic examination, following allegations that repeated system outages had obstructed earlier attempts to inspect official records.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The digital infrastructure at Sri Lanka’s Department of Motor Traffic has reportedly exhibited a suspicious pattern of system failures during critical investigative operations.
According to investigative sources, whenever law enforcement officers arrived to inspect state vehicle registries, even with formal court orders, the department’s server network would inexplicably crash on the same day.
Investigators suspect that these recurring outages were not technical accidents but part of an alleged five-year scheme designed to obstruct judicial oversight and prevent forensic audits of potentially corrupt transactions.
Now, for the first time, law enforcement authorities have reportedly succeeded in obtaining a complete digital copy of the central database for forensic examination.
The database copy could provide crucial evidence implicating senior officials within the department, formerly known as the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
The investigation began after the Inspector General of Police received intelligence concerning an illegally assembled vehicle that had allegedly been fraudulently entered into the state registration system.
The matter was referred to the Walana Vice Squad, headed by Officer-in-Charge Indika Weerasinghe. His team subsequently uncovered what investigators believe to be a broader network involved in regularising illegally assembled or imported vehicles through fabricated database entries.
On June 28, 2025, Weerasinghe’s team informed then-Commissioner General Kamal Amarasinghe of their intention to arrest Sajith Disanayake, an assistant director attached to the department’s IT Division.
According to sources, Amarasinghe, an attorney-at-law who was subsequently arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department, requested a 10-day postponement, reportedly citing the need to arrange operational cover for the vacant IT position.
During that period, sources allege that Amarasinghe advised Disanayake to file a writ petition before the Court of Appeal to prevent his arrest.
Disanayake is also alleged to have paid Rs. 4 million to obtain legal protection.
On the same day, the Walana Vice Squad secured a judicial order authorising a comprehensive forensic audit of the department’s IT system, a measure that departmental authorities had reportedly resisted for years.
Allegations Extend Beyond a Single IT Official
The allegations extend beyond one IT administrator.
Confidential sources claim that successive commissioners general were aware that the department’s computer systems could be deliberately disabled and that certain officials allegedly received a share of the illicit proceeds generated through unauthorised alterations to vehicle registration records.
Amarasinghe already faces pending charges relating to an alleged illegal vehicle assembly operation in Mawathagama. Police have reportedly seized three vehicles connected to the investigation and linked to his estate.
Informants have identified Disanayake as an alleged central figure in the technical manipulation of the department’s systems.
Sources claim that he possessed the technical capability to access private hardware and used elevated administrative privileges to alter, insert or delete vehicle registration records in exchange for substantial payments.
These allegations have not been tested in court. Disanayake has not been formally charged and remains entitled to the presumption of innocence.
New Leadership Facilitates Database Extraction
A significant breakthrough reportedly followed the appointment of Air Vice Marshal Thushara Fernando as Commissioner General of Motor Traffic.
After receiving intelligence concerning the alleged deliberate disruption of the department’s computer systems, Fernando briefed Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala and senior police officials.
Following executive authorisation, a multi-agency technical team comprising engineers from state technology institutions, Sri Lanka Telecom, the University of Colombo, IBM and technology vendor Informatics conducted an intensive 36-hour operation to extract the database.
The secured digital copy is now reportedly undergoing examination by digital forensic specialists at the University of Colombo.
Investigators are focusing on three principal methods of suspected registration fraud:
- Vehicle identity cloning: Using registration details belonging to scrapped vehicles to legitimise illegally assembled or imported vehicles.
- Unauthorised database entries: Inserting fabricated vehicle records directly into the registration system.
- Falsified Customs declarations: Manipulating Customs Declaration markers to circumvent verification procedures involving Sri Lanka Customs.
Potential Legal Consequences
Legal experts indicate that individuals found guilty of manipulating government registration systems could face prosecution under several laws, including the Computer Crimes Act, Motor Traffic Act, Penal Code and Bribery Act.
Depending on the offences established, penalties could include imprisonment, substantial fines, confiscation of vehicles and dismissal from public service.
Digital forensic analysts are continuing to examine time-stamped access logs, database modification histories and records of system shutdowns to identify those responsible for any unlawful manipulation.
The findings could prove pivotal in determining whether the repeated system failures were genuine technical incidents or deliberate attempts to conceal fraudulent activities within the Department of Motor Traffic.
