Opposition members have raised concerns over an alleged loss of USD 2.5 million belonging to the Treasury, which was reportedly diverted to a third party during a debt repayment, describing the incident as a “serious breakdown” of oversight and institutional safeguards.
Several reports have emerged claiming that the funds of the Treasury were allegedly diverted during a USD 22.9 million debt settlement due in September 2025 and had not reached the intended creditor country.
In a statement on X, MP Namal Rajapaksa said the loss, attributed to fraudulent payment instructions, was not a minor administrative lapse but a failure of internal controls at the highest levels. He cautioned against placing blame on junior officers, stating that responsibility lies with those overseeing and designing the system.
He also questioned how fraudulent email instructions bypassed verification protocols, whether safeguards were adequate, and if the role of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka had been undermined in handling high-value transactions.
Meanwhile, the Free Lawyers Organization has urged Parliament to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
In a letter dated April 22, 2026, addressed to the Speaker, its Chairman Maithri Gunaratne said the funds were allegedly diverted during a USD 22.9 million debt settlement due in September 2025 and had not reached the intended creditor country.
Gunaratne noted that a Technical Investigation Committee was appointed around March 24, 2026, and that several Treasury officials including two Deputy Directors, two Directors, and the Head of the Computer Division, have been suspended in connection with the incident.
The letter further stated that foreign debt repayments, previously handled by the Central Bank, were transferred to the Department of Foreign Resources and the State Debt Management Office following the new Finance Act.
It stressed that transactions of such magnitude would have required the involvement of both the Deputy Treasury Secretary and the Treasury Secretary.
The organization also called for the probe to be conducted by an independent team external to the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury, noting that Parliament holds ultimate responsibility for public finances. (Newswire)