The Free Lawyers’ Organization states that, although more than eight months have elapsed since the alleged cyber fraud involving USD 2.5 million in funds that went missing from the General Treasury, no official report on the matter has still been tabled in Parliament.

Issuing a statement, the organization noted that it is the responsibility of all relevant parties to present the relevant reports at least by the next sitting day of the Parliament.

Highlighting that Sri Lanka remains in a critical phase of its debt restructuring programme following a severe economic crisis, the organization further stated that, under a condition of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme, government debt management operations—previously handled by the Central Bank—were transferred to the Public Debt Management Office, a new institution established under the General Treasury.

They explained that debt management involves the timely and accurate repayment of domestic and foreign loans obtained by the government, along with the proper maintenance of transaction records. 

The organization further alleged that due to weaknesses in control mechanisms during the transitional period when responsibilities were transferred from the Central Bank to the Treasury, fraudsters were able to divert USD 2.5 million into foreign accounts amid institutional conflicts.

Accordingly, the organization stated that the issue is not merely a technical lapse but a serious failure in governance systems. It further noted that the incident, which reportedly resulted in the death of an official, extends beyond a financial loss.