In the recent years Sri Lankans saw some conflicting inside Cybercrime centres while seeking greener pastures in the jungles of Myanmar. Chinese nationals were largely blamed for running these centres. Eleven such gangsters were executed following a ruling by the Supreme People's Court (SPC) of China for crimes including intentional homicide, intentional injury, illegal detention, fraud, operating gambling establishments, deaths of 14 Chinese citizens & causing injuries to others on 29^th January 2026. SPC sources indicate that the funds involved in fraud & gambling is estimated to have exceeded USD 1.4 billion (Ref. Chinese Media).

‘U Saw’

Killings in Myanmar (earlier known as Burma) have been in the news for decades. Most are political assassinations & one of the most notable in the post colonial era was the killing of the cabinet of Burma on July 19, 1947. Burma’s independence hero, General Aung San (father of Aung San Suu Kyi) & six of his cabinet ministers were assassinated as a result of an orchestrated murder planned by political rival ‘U Saw’. Saw, a conservative pre WWII Prime Minister who was a bitter opponent of Aung San saw the gallows in 1948. Killing of Aung San is commemorated annually as Martyrs' Day. Conflict analysts see Aung’s death in 1947 as a key factor which made Myanmar saw political instability & military rule (Ref Myanmar history).

We saw

Two decades later on 15^th October 1967, Burmese were back in the news due to a piano killing. Shirley, the wife of the Burmese Ambassador in Sri Lanka W.K.H Sao Boonwaat was shot dead inside the ‘Carlton Lodge’ (the Capri Club at present) which was the residence of the Burmese Ambassador to Sri Lanka. The cause for the murder was reported to be an affair Shirley had with pianist Rex de Silva at the ‘Blue Leopard’ club she frequented. Rex was married to Jean (who divorced him due to this) later served Sri Lankan consulate in Turkey. She had three sons with him & the last surviving is living at Nugegoda. Due to diplomatic immunity & respecting related regulations, Police wasn’t allowed to enter the residence. However, it was reported that construction workers at a site opposite the residence had told the Police that they saw the incident (Api dekka). The case was closed without any diplomatic disagreements. Fifty years later Sri Lankans managed diplomatic affairs well with Myanmar to free nearly 100 Sri Lankans trafficked to the Cybercrime centres in Myawaddy, Myanmar. With the expansion of economics with China centered Belt & Road Initiative, more opportunities would be available to prosper. At the same time more scams & Cybercrime cases will also increase. Managing those to ensure sustainable development will be the challenge for those who foresee.

Views expressed are personal/ photo source www