Ceylon Watch has once again defended its editorial infrastructure against a coordinated cyberattack, reaffirming its commitment to digital sovereignty and civic truth. On October 26, 2025, the platform received a phishing email falsely claiming to be from Hostinger, warning of an urgent domain expiration and urging immediate payment. The email was routed through mail1.elgafo.de and sent from info.09xvdzfh8oweb@elgafo.de, later confirmed by Hostinger to be unaffiliated and malicious.
A second phishing attempt followed days earlier, on October 21, 2025, impersonating Bluehost. This email was sent from gestion@vmt.centrodeayudaesp.es under the name “Domain Gestion Bluehost,” and falsely claimed that the domain would expire on 21/10/2026. It included a deceptive “Renew Domain Now” button leading to a spoofed URL: https://client-area.bluehost-managementarea38374283.renewed202.com/bluest/4062552HVL=5JVG3XK0XD
Both links posed serious risks including credential theft, financial fraud, malware infection, and potential domain hijacking. Ceylon Watch did not engage with either link and immediately verified its renewal timeline with the legitimate hosting providers.
Ceylon Watch did not engage with the link and immediately verified its legitimate renewal timeline. Hostinger’s support agent identified the root vulnerability: the domain lacked a verified DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) record, allowing spoofed emails to bypass filters. Hostinger then generated and verified a custom DKIM record for ceylonwatch.com, restoring authentication and protecting future communications from impersonation.
This phishing attempt is not an isolated event. In October 2024, Ceylon Watch suffered a ransomware breach that infected over 11,900 files and caused temporary site downtime. The attack was traced to IPs originating from the United States, Germany, Singapore, and Spain. These repeated incidents reflect a coordinated effort to destabilize civic media rooted in cultural sovereignty.
According to civic observer Indika Shabandu, freelance platforms like Ceylon Watch are being deliberately attacked because they document Buddhist Sasana law, native inheritance rights, and constitutional ethics. These platforms challenge dominant narratives and promote indigenous legal frameworks, making them vulnerable to suppression by foreign actors. Shabandu warns that many non-governmental organizations based in Germany are actively influencing Sri Lanka’s digital space, often undermining native traditions through ideological manipulation.
He urges readers to remain vigilant, support ethical platforms, and seek responsible cyber policy from both local and international stakeholders. Sri Lankan citizens must understand how foreign actors exploit infrastructure, defend platforms that document native law and civic truth, and educate themselves on digital sovereignty and cultural defense.
Ceylon Watch calls on all Sri Lankan media platforms, civic groups, and digital operators to verify their DKIM and SPF records, remain alert to phishing attempts, and educate the public on digital hygiene. A formal report will be sent to Sri Lanka CERT once prepared, to set a responsible civic example and reinforce national awareness.
This moment also coincides with Ceylon Watch’s support for a major intellectual forum on Buddhist law and constitutional ethics a gathering that reflects the platform’s mission to protect cultural truth and foster legal reflection. Editor Palitha Ariyarathna emphasizes that defending a website is not just technicalit’s about safeguarding the spaces where Sri Lanka’s deepest cultural conversations take place.
Ceylon Watch will continue to uphold truth, transparency, and civic vigilance in the face of digital deception.
By Palitha Ariyarathana
Editor