Explosive claims rock the political landscape as accusations of financial fraud, governance failures, and alleged cover-ups intensify, placing the spotlight firmly on accountability within Sri Lanka’s highest offices.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa has alleged that the government is attempting to conceal a major financial fraud involving the transfer of funds from the Ministry of Finance to a fraudulent account, drawing parallels to the controversial 323 container incident and the coal procurement scandal.
He made these remarks while addressing questions raised by journalists in Colombo, where he outlined a series of concerns regarding governance, accountability, and alleged irregularities within state institutions.
Speaking further, Namal Rajapaksa said:
“On one hand, the government is importing substandard coal. That loss is being passed on to the people. On the other hand, when you look at what is happening now, without the government’s knowledge, its own officials have transferred government funds to fraudulent accounts. What we are hearing now is that a payment of $2.5 million was made based on information received through a spam email or a forged email message. That is what we understand. This is said to have happened back in December of last year. But what legal action has the government taken to this day? To whose account did that $2.5 million go? Or did an even larger sum go?
Back in the day, the so-called Yahapalana government, allied with the JVP, created an Anti-Corruption Committee and went around claiming they would catch thieves, but instead, they looted the Central Bank. Now those very same people have returned to power, and while claiming to catch thieves, they have reached a point where they are transferring money from the Ministry of Finance into their own accounts. Why? Because if an email message comes to the Ministry of Finance saying make a payment or pay a certain debt or interest, the Secretary to the Treasury and the Minister of Finance, who is also the President of this country, must take responsibility. The President cannot simply wash his hands of this and say I suspended four new officials who were under me because of a mistake they made. The money from the Ministry of Finance account has not gone somewhere else; it has gone from the account of the ministry for which the President is the subject minister.
Previously, debts were paid through the Central Bank. Now, through a new Act, that responsibility has been given to the Ministry of Finance. Therefore, as the minister in charge of the Ministry of Finance, the President, the Secretary, and the officials must take responsibility. So, as soon as this government came to power, they appointed officials who were favorable to their party and favorable to themselves. The end result is not only that the entire state machinery has collapsed, but they have also reached a point where they are transferring government funds into whatever accounts they please.
On one hand, the government is making every effort to cover up the coal scam. The Inspector General of Police is trying to perform his duties to the maximum. They are trying to hide the theft, hide the fraud, and pass the loss onto the people. On the other hand, Sri Lanka has purchased oil at the highest cost in the world market. There is even a report. According to international reports, we have made history as the country that bought oil at the highest price during the war. Even Iran probably did not buy oil at that price, but the Sri Lankan government has bought oil at that price. Now, on top of that, they have been fooled by a fraudulent email sent to the Ministry of Finance and transferred $2.5 million into an account. Who will be held responsible for these things? Ultimately, that loss will also be passed on to the people.
Appointing commissions of inquiry is just a tactic to delay and cover things up, not to conduct proper investigations. Now, if this incident happened last December, what action has the government taken so far? They have tried to hide and cover it up, have they not? They have not made a decision. Clearly, the government wants to hide this theft. Just like the 323 container scandal and the coal procurement issue, the President and the government want to conceal this fraud involving the transfer of funds from the Ministry of Finance to a fraudulent account.
We will wait and see what the government does. But there must be a proper investigation into this. Justice must be served. What action has been taken against the companies that imported coal? The government is protecting the company, not trying to investigate the fraud or theft. But they say the company will suffer a huge loss, so that would be a sin. So, we will wait until the government actually catches the real thieves. The pickpocket theory will not work anymore. It is not enough for them to come after us shouting there is the thief, catch him while they themselves have committed fraud at the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance, with coal, and with containers. We will wait and see, and we will clearly inform the country in the future about those who are behind these matters.”
