Treasury payment of USD 2.5 million allegedly diverted to hackers

A payment of $2.5 million released by the General Treasury to settle a foreign debt failed to reach the intended recipient and was reportedly diverted to a computer hacker or a third party, according to the ‘FREE LAWYERS’ organisation.

The chairman of the organisation, President’s Counsel Maithri Gunarathne, sent a letter to the Speaker of Parliament requesting a formal investigation into the incident.

The organisation noted that while the Central Bank of Sri Lanka previously managed foreign debt, installment, and interest repayments, these responsibilities shifted to the Department of External Resources and the Public Debt Management Office following the passage of the new Finance Act.

Consequently, these specific departments prepared the documentation and executed the payment in question.

The current investigation is being conducted under an Additional Secretary to the Treasury who bears final responsibility for debt payments.

The organisation emphasised that this official continues to lead operations within the relevant department while the probe is ongoing.

The organisation urged the Speaker to initiate a full investigation through an external team or via Parliament to ensure impartiality, as the current internal process may be compromised.

Meanwhile, the ‘Dinana Dakuna’ collective issued a press release demanding an immediate and comprehensive inquiry into whether the $2.5 million payment was actually executed.

Attorney Shiral Lakthilaka, a member of the leadership council, signed the statement.

An official from Parliament stated, upon inquiry, that no such letter containing this request arrived as of yet.