News
Lankan woman’s fake pregnancy, stolen ID rock Kuwait
A Sri Lankan woman has made headlines in Kuwait after authorities uncovered a 33-year-long fraud in which she deceived a Kuwaiti man, faked a pregnancy, and illegally obtained Kuwaiti citizenship, Gulf News reported yesterday.
The extraordinary case has exposed major vulnerabilities in Kuwait’s identity and nationality systems. It has also led to the revocation of citizenship from the woman’s purported daughter, after DNA testing confirmed that the child was not biologically related to either the woman or the man listed as her father.
The woman, identified as Costa, first entered Kuwait in 1992 on a domestic worker visa. Just two years later, she was deported following an absconding case filed against her.
However, in 1996, she re-entered the country under a new name and passport. With no biometric screening systems in place at the time,
she was able to pass through immigration unnoticed.
Shortly after her return, Costa married a Kuwaiti taxi driver. Under Article 8 of Kuwait’s Nationality Law, a foreign woman could apply for citizenship if she was married to a Kuwaiti man and had a child with him. Costa used this provision to lay the foundation for what authorities now describe as one of the boldest cases of identity fraud in the nation’s history.
To exploit the law, Costa convinced her husband she was pregnant. In reality, she had arranged with another Sri Lankan woman — who was genuinely expecting — to deliver the baby in a Kuwaiti hospital using Costa’s Civil ID.
The newborn girl was falsely registered as the daughter of Costa and her Kuwaiti husband. Neither had any biological link to the child, although the husband remained unaware of the deception.
In 2000, Costa applied for Kuwaiti citizenship, based on her marriage and supposed motherhood. Her application was approved, and she officially became a Kuwaiti national.
In 2008, after years of marital tension, Costa divorced her husband and admitted that the child was not his. Although he reported the revelation to the authorities, no legal action was taken at the time.
It wasn’t until 2021 that he filed a formal complaint, prompting an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department. DNA testing confirmed that the child was not biologically related to either Costa or her ex-husband.
In 2024, the Supreme Committee for Citizenship Affairs ruled that Costa had fraudulently acquired Kuwaiti nationality through deception, forgery, and impersonation. Her citizenship was revoked. Soon afterwards, the citizenship of her daughter—now an adult — was also annulled.
Authorities subsequently identified the girl’s biological mother as a Sri Lankan woman who had been in Kuwait at the time of delivery but was later deported. The daughter is now being issued Sri Lankan identification documents.
As part of the official visit to London for the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, held discussions with academic experts from the British Council on Wednesday [20 May 2026].
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in education, particularly in the areas of teacher training, English language programmes, education frameworks, and language acquisition skills.
The British Council shared international experience and highlighted its ongoing engagement in Sri Lanka, while expressing readiness to support the country through technical assistance, teacher development initiatives, and policy collaboration.
Discussions also included views on improving quality assurance, expanding research collaboration, and enhancing learning opportunities.
The Prime Minister appreciated the British Council’s continued engagement in Sri Lanka and reiterated the importance of deepening partnerships.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division’
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom, met with members of the Sri Lankan community living in London on Wednesday [20th] and engaged in cordial discussions.
Despite the event being held on a weekday, it was notable that nearly one thousand Sri Lankans representing the Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim communities attended with great enthusiasm.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that despite natural disasters and international crises, the present government has succeeded in stabilizing the country’s economy while providing relief to the people. She further noted that Sri Lanka’s political culture has now undergone a positive transformation that is irreversible.
Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj, addressing the event, stated that a governance system has now been established in the country where all communities are treated equally and the benefits of economic development are shared fairly among all citizens.
Moving away from the traditional method of political gatherings, the event also provided an open platform for members of the Sri Lankan community to directly raise questions and express their views to the Prime Minister and the Minister.
Commenting on the organization of the event, the organizing committee stated that all expenses, including dinner, were borne by the participants themselves. The organizers further remarked that it is unsurprising that opposition groups, accustomed to organizing such events through the misuse of public funds, appear unsettled by this transparent process.
The occasion was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya currently undertaking an official visit to London, United Kingdom, to participate in the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026 held a bilateral meeting with the Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom ON Wednesday [20]. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera, along with officials from the Sri Lankan High Commission.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed Sri Lanka’s appreciation to the United Kingdom for the support extended in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwa, including ongoing rebuilding and recovery assistance. The Prime Minister also commended the United Kingdom’s support in facilitating increased bilateral trade and exports for Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister briefed the UK delegation on Sri Lanka’s recent economic developments and policy priorities, the Government’s commitment to advancing human rights and reconciliation, as well as Sri Lanka’s positive growth trajectory.
The two sides also exchanged views on current global geopolitical developments, challenges in the energy sector, and the importance of enhancing regional connectivity and long-term energy security.
Both sides also emphasised the importance of strengthening structured academic mobility frameworks while ensuring fairness, clarity, and integrity within migration systems.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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