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NDB Bank Internal Fraud: **Interpol Experts to Assist Investigation**; Alleged Misappropriation Amount Remains **Rs. 13.2 Billion**
The Pulse
EconomyCrimeHOTMonday, April 6, 2026

NDB Bank Internal Fraud: **Interpol Experts to Assist Investigation**; Alleged Misappropriation Amount Remains **Rs. 13.2 Billion**

TLDR

  • NDB Bank internal fraud now totals Rs. 13.2 billion.

  • Four suspects arrested by CID; Interpol experts to assist.

  • CBSL assures customer deposits safe; NDB capital/liquidity strong.

  • CoPF raised governance concerns; Ravi Karunanayake alleges wider fraud.

National Development Bank PLC (NDB Bank) has reported an internal fraud involving certain employees acting in connivance with third parties. Preliminary estimates indicate a possible loss of around Rs. 380 million, though the final amount could be substantially higher as investigations continue. The bank has promptly referred the matter to law enforcement authorities and formally notified the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), also disclosing it to the Colombo Stock Exchange. NDB Bank assures customers that their deposits, account balances, and day-to-day operations remain unaffected, with all funds safe and secure. The CBSL has conducted a preliminary assessment and confirmed that NDB's capital adequacy and liquidity ratios remain above minimum regulatory requirements, stating it will continue to monitor the situation.

8 Updates

Update #9\u00b7 Apr 17 · 12:35 AM

Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has alleged that the financial fraud, similar to the one at NDB Bank, has spread to between 5 and 7 other commercial banks and between 4 and 9 Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs). Karunanayake attributed this to the Central Bank's alleged irresponsibility and systemic failures, further claiming that the Central Bank and relevant authorities are obstructing their duties by failing to address critical national issues for months.

Update #8\u00b7 Apr 13 · 6:33 AM

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) issued a statement on April 10, reiterating its assurances regarding NDB's continued stability, capital and liquidity levels, and the safety of customer deposits. Separately, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has sought and will receive assistance from Interpol for the ongoing investigation into the fraud. A group of Interpol experts specializing in virtual currency is scheduled to arrive in the country for this purpose, following a request made by the CID to Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, France.

Update #7\u00b7 Apr 10 · 6:31 PM

The Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) meeting on April 7, where the NDB fraud was discussed, was held as part of the Central Bank’s statutory presentation to Parliament, a quarterly event. Separately, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has issued a statement to the public, assuring that customer accounts and deposits remain safe and secure, and confirming its close and continuous engagement in monitoring the developments at NDB.

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