- Interdicted Treasury official found dead
- Had ignored CID summons twice
- Treasury Secy faces COPF scrutiny
- Email spoofing suspected
An Assistant Director of the Finance Ministry’s External Resources Department, who had been indicted over the alleged theft of US$ 2.5 million by hackers, was reportedly found dead yesterday (30) under suspicious circumstances at his residence in Kuliyapitiya.
He was discovered by relatives, who informed the Police. Officers have since visited the scene and commenced preliminary investigations.
The cause of death has not yet been ascertained, with inquiries ongoing to determine whether it was a suicide, accident, or homicide.
The Ministry had recently taken steps to suspend the deceased and three other officials in connection with the incident involving the misplacement of a payment of US$ 2.5 million from Treasury funds, allegedly due to a breach of a Ministry computer system by hackers.
It is reported that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had notified the official on two occasions to appear before it to record a statement in relation to the incident. However, he had failed to appear on either occasion.
The CID is currently investigating the missing payment, which had been made as part of a debt settlement linked to a US$ 22.9 million loan from the Australian Government. The funds had not reached their intended recipient and had instead been diverted to hackers.
The Ministry has lodged complaints with the relevant law enforcement agencies regarding the cyber breach. Treasury Secretary Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma has stated that investigations revealed the hackers had gained access to the system through electronic mail, adding that efforts are underway to recover the funds.
Meanwhile, Dr Suriyapperuma arrived at the Parliamentary Complex yesterday (30) to appear before the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF).
COPF convened yesterday under the chairmanship of Opposition MP Dr Harsha de Silva to inquire into the alleged misplacement of the US$ 2.5 million payment from Treasury funds, reportedly due to a cyber breach of the Ministry’s computer system.
It was earlier reported that Dr Suriyapperuma had been scheduled to appear before COPF at 1 p.m. yesterday, following summons issued to him and other Ministry officials. However, Dr de Silva stated that Dr Suriyapperuma had, in a letter dated Wednesday (29), informed the Committee that he would not be appearing. The letter was received by COPF on the same day.
COPF had convened on Wednesday to discuss the incident involving the US$ 2.5 million allegedly obtained by cybercriminals after breaching a Ministry system. At that meeting, it was decided to summon a group of senior officials, including Dr Suriyapperuma, to appear before the Committee.
Cabinet Spokesperson Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has also stated the payment, made as part of a debt settlement linked to a US$ 22.9 million loan, had not reached its intended recipient and had instead been diverted. Investigations are ongoing.
Earlier, the Free Lawyers Association, which first revealed the alleged fraud, stated that Dr de Silva has the authority to take action through Parliamentary mechanisms if Dr Suriyapperuma fails to appear. Issuing a statement on behalf of the organisation, former Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon noted that COPF was established under Parliamentary Standing Order 121, passed in 2022.
He further stated that provisions exist under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act to penalise any individual who violates Parliamentary Standing Orders. The COPF Chair has the authority to summon any individual and, where such a summons is ignored, to initiate action under the Act. Tennakoon noted that such offences may be punishable either by Parliament or by the Supreme Court, with penalties including imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, or both.
He stressed that any individual summoned by COPF who fails to appear may be subject to legal action, and added that if a summons is ignored, the Committee Chair must either enforce penalties or resign in order to uphold the dignity and integrity of Parliament.
The statement also noted that no previous Government has challenged Parliamentary financial accountability or undermined the authority of Parliamentary committees in this manner.
Meanwhile, Dr de Silva stated on Wednesday that he had been informed that Dr Suriyapperuma would not be appearing before COPF. The Treasury Secretary had been summoned to provide explanations regarding an incident in which US$ 2.5 million held for foreign debt repayment was allegedly transferred to an external party.
Additionally, Free Lawyers Association member President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne expressed a lack of confidence in the ongoing investigations conducted by the CID.
Separately, speaking on a television programme aired on Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne stated that no definitive conclusion has yet been reached regarding the involvement of a hacker. He noted that further investigations are required and suggested the incident may have resulted from an email sent from a domain closely resembling that of a foreign institution, indicating possible negligence.
Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe also stated that if there are corrupt individuals within the Government, legal action will be taken against them regardless of status.