- Chair says Treasury Secretary likely to be summoned
Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva said that the committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow (28) to discuss the controversial US$ 2.5 million cyber fraud incident, adding that decisions would be taken without party affiliations.
He said that based on the outcome of the meeting, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma is expected to be summoned before Parliament to provide further clarification.
Speaking on the matter, Dr. de Silva expressed concern over reports that the computer system of the Finance Ministry had been hacked, stating that such a development would represent a serious national issue if confirmed. “The main issue earlier was whether there had been a technical default. At that time, we were told that it was not due to a technical failure, but that the Government was discussing the matter with the Australian Government,” he said.
However, he noted that newly emerging information had raised concerns about the handling of the issue and the timing of disclosures to Parliament. “Now, with new information coming out, we feel that Parliament should have been informed about this in January, 2026,” he said.
Referring to correspondence submitted by the Finance Ministry and Treasury Secretary, Dr. de Silva said that the letter indicated that unauthorised persons had accessed the Ministry’s computer network. “The letter submitted by the Secretary states that hackers had entered the computer network of the Finance Ministry without authorisation. I find that difficult to believe. If that has happened, it would be a very serious problem.”
He added that he was highly doubtful about the hacking claim. “I do not believe at all that hackers have infiltrated the computer network of the Ministry. I am 99% confident that this did not happen. There must be another explanation,” he said.
Speaking further, he emphasised that the issue ultimately centres on public trust and accountability. “This is all about trust. I hope members of the committee will act responsibly, without political considerations, and summon the Treasury Secretary and relevant officials before Parliament as soon as possible to provide the necessary information,” he added.