Treasury heist row deepens as Free Lawyers allege govt plans to shift blame to private firms, raising concerns over transparency and accountability.
The Treasury heist row has taken a dramatic turn after the Free Lawyers organization alleged that the government is preparing to shift blame for the Rs. 2.5 million financial irregularity onto two private companies with no state ties.
Speaking at a media briefing, former Governor Rajitha Keerthi Tennakoon claimed that the government is attempting to frame the incident as a “hacker” attack. He argued instead that the breach occurred due to an internal information leak within the Treasury and the Central Bank.
Tennakoon stated that he has already sought clarification from the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance, MP Harsha de Silva, raising 15 key points related to the transaction and its handling.
The controversy has intensified with claims that the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Harshana Suriyapperuma, has repeatedly avoided appearing before the Committee on Public Finance. According to Tennakoon, critical information continues to be withheld, raising further concerns about transparency.
He called for the immediate resignation of the Secretary, stating that such a step is necessary to ensure a fair and impartial investigation. He also urged the Committee on Public Finance to recommend to the President that action be taken if the Secretary fails to step down.
However, questions remain about the systemic failures that may have allowed the incident to occur. Tennakoon pointed out that if the Debt Servicing Committee had been properly established under Section 8 of the Debt Management Act No. 33 of 2024, there could have been an opportunity to prevent what he described as a “great heist.”
He further alleged that authorities have failed in their responsibility to present transparent reports on government debt, repayments, and interest obligations. This raises concerns about the overall integrity of financial reporting mechanisms within key institutions.
Tennakoon also criticized the approach taken by oversight bodies, stating that by treating the Central Bank and the Treasury as institutions beyond reproach, the Committee on Public Finance has not been able to fully exercise its statutory powers.
What happens next could be critical. With mounting allegations and calls for accountability, pressure is growing on the government to clarify its position and address concerns surrounding the Treasury heist.
The Free Lawyers organization has called for an immediate independent investigation, emphasizing that only a transparent and credible probe can restore public confidence and ensure justice.
