Sri Lankan authorities have arrested two suspects, including a Maldivian national, after raiding an alleged illegal television and radio transmission centre operating inside a high-security zone near Ratmalana International Airport.
The raid was carried out by the Mount Lavinia Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau with support from telecommunications authorities following intelligence reports about suspicious broadcasting activities in the Attidiya area.
According to Sri Lanka Police, the operation had allegedly been running secretly under the guise of a travel company.
During the raid, investigators seized equipment valued at nearly Rs. 50 million, including satellite receivers, satellite dishes, computers, a Starlink unit and multiple transmission devices believed to have been used for illegal broadcasting operations.
Preliminary findings indicate the group allegedly obtained data services from a private telecommunications provider to download television channels through satellite connections before redistributing television and radio broadcasts to subscribers in Sri Lanka and overseas without authorization.
Authorities suspect the operation may have functioned as an unauthorized transmission hub catering to both local and international clients.
The identities of the suspects have not yet been released publicly. Sri Lankan police said further investigations are ongoing to determine the full scale of the operation, possible financial links and whether additional individuals were involved.
