Sri Lanka is facing a growing governance crisis as allegations surface that the prolonged delay in appointing an Auditor General is a deliberate move to shield large scale fraud, corruption and abuse of public funds at the highest levels of government.
The position of Auditor General in Sri Lanka has remained vacant for the past eight months, raising serious concerns about transparency, accountability and financial oversight. Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has accused the government of intentionally keeping the post unfilled in order to conceal theft and corruption.
Speaking on the matter, the MP stated that several ministers have recently begun attacking the Constitutional Council after it blocked the President’s attempt to appoint a close associate to the powerful position. According to him, this backlash clearly exposes the political motive behind the delay.
Namal Rajapaksa emphasized that the real reason for failing to appoint a qualified and independent Auditor General is to prevent exposure of ongoing fraud and corruption within the government. He alleged that those in power are fearful of an independent audit that could reveal serious financial misconduct.
The MP further claimed that the government itself is directly involved in multiple corrupt activities. He referred to tenders being called for the illegal importation of cab vehicles, the unlawful release of 323 containers from the port, and the importation of substandard medicines into the country. According to him, these questionable transactions explain why there is a desperate and shameless effort to install a loyal individual as Auditor General.
He warned that continuing this political game with such a critical constitutional office will have serious international consequences. Namal Rajapaksa stressed that the absence of an Auditor General could severely damage Sri Lanka’s ability to secure foreign loans, grants and financial assistance from international institutions.
He pointed out that organizations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank provide assistance only after formal and credible audits are conducted. Without an Auditor General, Sri Lanka risks losing the confidence of these global lenders and development partners.
The MP cautioned that the government must understand the gravity of the situation. He said it is extremely dangerous for any country to operate without an independent Auditor General, as no international organization or foreign government will be willing to extend assistance to a nation that cannot guarantee transparent auditing of public funds.
He concluded by urging the authorities to immediately end political interference, respect the Constitutional Council, and appoint a suitable and independent Auditor General to protect Sri Lanka’s financial credibility and democratic institutions.
