Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the government of failing to provide a clear and formal explanation regarding the alleged theft of USD 2.5 million from Finance Ministry funds by hackers.
Speaking to reporters after a religious event in Kurunegala today (24), Premadasa said conflicting statements from key officials have created confusion. He noted that Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma and Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha have presented differing accounts of the incident.
He stressed that the public has a right to accurate and transparent information on the matter.
Premadasa further pointed out that while the Finance Ministry Secretary had stated the issue was identified in January and handled confidentially for several months, it raises concerns as to why a committee to investigate the matter was only appointed in March.
He also criticised the delay in informing Parliament, stating that the legislature—responsible for oversight of public finances—was not made aware of the incident until it became public.
The Opposition Leader also referred to remarks by Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha suggesting the incident was linked to a transaction involving India, and called on the government to clarify the facts immediately.
He added that if funds were lost in transactions involving India or Australia, the government must disclose the full details, questioning why such a serious issue had been withheld from the public for months.