Cyber thefts: India, Sri Lanka discuss cooperation for containment in future

Colombo, May 12 (Daily Mirror)- In the wake of cyber thefts affecting the Government’s financial activities, Sri Lanka and India have initiated discussions for cooperation to pre-empt such threats in the future, Daily Mirror learns.

However, current efforts being initiated between the two countries are not part of any joint investigations into the two cyber cases of thefts that resulted in the loss of US $ 2.5 million in one case and US $ 625,000 in another.

Daily Mirror learns that official level discussions were held between the two countries, and steps would be taken for future collaboration depending on Sri Lanka’s priorities and requirements.

“This has been identified as an emerging threat to all concerned. The proposed cooperation is to look how best we can cooperate,” a source familiar with the process said.

Earlier, Sri Lanka lost US $ 2.5 million when cyber criminals breached the computer system of the Finance Ministry. Payments made on ten occasions as part of Sri Lanka’s debt servicing to Australia had been stolen in this manner. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is also assisting Sri Lanka in this regard.

Quick on the heels of this theft, Sri Lanka lost another US $ 625,000 paid to the US Postal Service. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has already pledged assistance to investigate into these cases.

A US embassy spokesperson said earlier that America takes cybercrimes involving its institutions very seriously.

It transpired during investigations into these two cases by the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) that cyber thefts had taken place despite prior warnings.