The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I table the answer.

¶ 02 Answer tabled.

¶ 03 (a) (i) The Computer Crimes Investigation Division was established on 24.03.2021. Reported cybercrime complaints by year:

¶ 04 - 2021: Island-wide 3,187; Northern Province – - 2022: Island-wide 2,019; Northern Province 7 - 2023: Island-wide 3,292; Northern Province 13 - 2024: Island-wide 2,453; Northern Province 23 - 2025: Island-wide 1,302; Northern Province 12 - Up to 10.03.2026: Island-wide 740; Northern Province 7 Total: Island-wide 12,993; Northern Province 62

¶ 05 (ii) Northern Province by police division:

¶ 06 - 2022: Vavuniya – 7 - 2023: Jaffna 2; Kilinochchi 1; Vavuniya 10; total 13 - 2024: Jaffna 2; Vavuniya 21; total 23 - 2025: Kilinochchi 5; Vavuniya 7; total 12 - 2026: Vavuniya 7; total 7 Total: Jaffna 4; Kilinochchi 6; Vavuniya 52; total 62

¶ 07 (iii) Measures: 1. Computer Crimes Investigation Sub-Units under the CID established to cover Western, Central, Southern, Eastern, North Western, North Central and Northern Provinces; Sabaragamuwa and Uva are covered by the CID Computer Crimes Unit. 2. Special awareness programmes in schools in collaboration with Police Stations and the Children and Women’s Bureau to prevent social media and computer-related crimes against women and children. 3. Identifying victims suffering psychological trauma due to cybercrimes and referring them for medical counselling. 4. Deploying women police officers on special duty to Northern and Eastern Provinces to expedite investigations. 5. Conducting awareness in Tamil in the Northern Province through Tamil-speaking officers attached to the Children and Women Abuse Prevention and Investigation Division HQ and local Tamil-proficient officers. 6. Hotlines introduced: 011-2444444; and since 2024, a 24/7 operations centre via 109 with women police officers only; additional mobile/WhatsApp 071-8595823; email cwhb.online@police.gov.lk and online109@police.gov.lk. Reports are relayed immediately to relevant stations, with progress obtained within 48 hours. 7. The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children unit under the Children and Women Abuse Prevention and Investigation Division also receives and investigates cybercrime complaints. 8. Projects like “Saroja Project” in the Eastern Province to address vulnerable children, conducted with Police intervention. 9. Monthly community policing/ public security committee meetings include awareness on cybercrime. 10. Women officers of the Children and Women’s Bureau and divisional units provide necessary psycho-social counselling services for women affected by cybercrimes.

¶ 08 (b) Does not arise.