International pressure builds as Australian investigators join Sri Lanka’s high-stakes probe into a multi-million dollar cyber breach that has shaken financial security and raised urgent questions about accountability and system vulnerabilities.
Australian officials are now actively supporting Sri Lanka’s investigation into the cyber attack that resulted in the theft of US $2.5 million from the Ministry of Finance systems. The involvement was confirmed by Australian High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth, signaling growing international attention on the Sri Lanka cyber crime investigation.
The stolen funds were part of a bilateral debt repayment owed to Australia, with the settlement originally scheduled for completion by September 2025. Authorities revealed that the diversion of funds had occurred earlier in January, raising serious concerns about cybersecurity weaknesses within government financial systems.
Finance Ministry Secretary Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma stated during a press briefing that cyber criminals had breached the ministry’s computer systems and redirected the funds into unauthorized accounts shortly after the payment was processed. The incident has since triggered a multi agency investigation into the financial fraud and digital security lapse.
Responding to queries on the matter, Australian High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth emphasized that Australian authorities are fully aware of the incident and are cooperating closely with Sri Lankan officials. He noted that officers based in Canberra are currently assisting in the ongoing investigation to trace the stolen funds and identify those responsible for the cyber breach.
Duckworth further clarified that despite the seriousness of the incident, Australia’s long term commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and debt sustainability remains unchanged. He reiterated that the core responsibility of resolving the issue lies with Sri Lanka’s investigative authorities.
Sri Lanka has since mobilized several agencies to probe the cyber attack, highlighting the scale and complexity of the financial system breach. As the Sri Lanka Treasury cyber fraud investigation unfolds, authorities face mounting pressure to ensure transparency, accountability, and stronger cybersecurity measures to prevent future incidents.
