$2.5M Finance fraud investigation expands as Nalinda Jayatissa says CID, internal probes and future legal action are underway.
The $2.5M Finance fraud investigation has intensified, with the government confirming that extensive inquiries are underway into how Ministry of Finance funds allegedly reached external parties.
Minister of Health and Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa made the revelation while participating in the “National Operation to Eradicate Toxins” held at the Kalutara District Secretariat office.
He said the incident, involving $2.5 million belonging to the Ministry of Finance, is now being examined through multiple investigative channels.
In addition to independent investigations, a special internal inquiry is also already underway at the Ministry of Finance level.
According to the Minister, one of the primary goals of the inquiry is to determine whether any official or group of officials intentionally facilitated the fraud.
This raises concerns about whether the incident was merely an administrative or technical failure, or whether there was deliberate involvement from within the system.
Dr. Jayatissa said the purpose of the investigations is not only to punish those responsible, but also to establish a stronger security mechanism within the state financial system.
He emphasized that the government wants to ensure that such a financial irregularity does not happen again.
The Minister further stated that the government is paying serious attention to the fact that such an incident was reported from a responsible institution like the Ministry of Finance.
“All investigative work is underway. An internal investigation is also being conducted by the Ministry of Finance. Likewise, action is being taken based on the complaint filed with the Criminal Investigation Department since February,” he said.
“Our desire is to find out whether any official or several officials intentionally were involved in this. If not, to establish a strong mechanism to prevent such a thing from happening in the future. Accordingly, we are proceeding on both fronts,” he added.
However, questions remain over how the alleged fraud was able to take place within a key state institution responsible for national financial management.
Dr. Jayatissa said future action by the Criminal Investigation Department or the Bribery Commission will take place, followed by the next step of filing legal cases.
He also stated that the dates for those cases have already been announced by the court, and that the relevant parties know when the cases will be heard.
According to him, this information was already common knowledge.
“That is what was said on the May Day rally stages. In any case, the case dates have been announced for the coming days. Accordingly, legal proceedings will take place,” the Minister said.
What happens next could be critical, as the $2.5 million Finance fraud probe may determine whether Sri Lanka’s state financial system failed through negligence, internal involvement, or weaknesses that now require urgent reform.
