May 05, LNW (Colombo): In a blistering parliamentary address today, SJB senior leader and COPF Chairman Dr. Harsha De Silva delivered a devastating takedown of the government’s financial administration, firmly crushing days of propaganda suggesting his imminent defection to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s camp.
Dr. De Silva exposed severe procedural breakdowns, revealing that the Department of External Resources was improperly involved in debt transactions, a function legally reserved exclusively for the Debt Management Department. He attributed these structural failures to the appointment of inexperienced Planning Service officers as Director Generals, sidelining seasoned Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) officials.
Turning to the ongoing treasury fraud, the economist questioned how lower-level directors authorized massive foreign currency payments, citing specific transfers of $100,000 and $900,000, without oversight. He warned that missing funds will ultimately burden the taxpaying public unless recovered directly from the responsible.
“The Treasury Secretary lacks necessary financial management experience,” Dr. De Silva charged.
He further expressed frustration that top finance officials, including the Finance secretary, have evaded the Public Finance Committee for three consecutive sessions prompting a formal complaint to the President.
The speech came despite a sustained disinformation campaign by government-aligned YouTubers predicting Dr. De Silva would join the administration alongside Eran Wickramaratne.
