Fraudulent Cryptocurrency advertisements linking Prime Minister, Lithuanian Consulate concerned

The Lithuanian Consulate Sri Lanka  has expressed its deep concern regarding recent reports of fraudulent cryptocurrency advertisements circulating on social media platforms, falsely featuring  Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and other prominent public figures.

These deceptive campaigns, identified by the Prime Minister’s Office of Sri Lanka, are being operated by foreign entities with the intent of misleading Sri Lankan citizens, the Consulate office said.

It has been further reported that these fraudulent advertisements originate from accounts allegedly linked to Lithuania, raising concerns over their transnational nature and the exploitation of digital platforms for financial scams.

In response to these developments, the Lithuanian Consulate to Sri Lanka has taken immediate steps to address the issue. Among the steps taken.

Engaged with the Embassy of Lithuania to officially convey the concerns raised by Sri Lankan authorities and seek their guidance.

 Requested formal clarification from relevant Lithuanian authorities regarding the alleged connections to fraudulent activities.

Communicated with Sri Lankan government agencies to express the Consulate’s readiness to cooperate in any investigations.

Called for enhanced international cooperation between Sri Lankan and Lithuanian authorities to identify and mitigate the fraudulent activities.

 Urged social media platforms, particularly Meta (Facebook’s parent company), to take stronger measures in preventing the spread of fraudulent advertisements.

The Official Statement by the Consulate Director Mr. Kanchana Kodituwakku, Director of the Lithuanian Consulate to Sri Lanka, stated:

"The Lithuanian Consulate to Sri Lanka strongly condemns any fraudulent activities that seek to exploit the trust of Sri Lankan

citizens. Upon receiving reports of these deceptive cryptocurrency advertisements, we acted swiftly to bring the matter to the attention of the Lithuanian Embassy and relevant authorities. The Consulate remains fully committed to supporting efforts that protect Sri Lankan and Lithuanian interests and will continue to work towards enhanced collaboration between regulatory and enforcement agencies. We also urge digital platforms to take decisive action against fraudulent content to prevent further exploitation of their users."

The Lithuanian Consulate to Sri Lanka will continue to monitor developments and provide necessary updates in coordination with Sri Lankan and Lithuanian authorities.