Sri Lanka Parliament debates $2.5 million cyber fraud in sovereign debt

Sri Lanka’s Parliament convened a heated debate after the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) released a report on a $2.5 million cyber fraud that diverted sovereign debt service payments. Opposition MP Kabir Hashim, speaking for COPF Chairman Harsha de Silva, said the report confirmed a breach in debt‑management operations and called for an independent forensic audit, blaming senior officials at the Treasury and the Central Bank. The government, represented by Minister of Labor and Deputy Minister of Finance Anil Jayantha, argued that the fraud resulted from fraudulent email instructions during the transition of functions to the Public Debt Management Office, citing longstanding internal‑control weaknesses. Jayantha accused the opposition of politicising the incident, while also noting the tragic suicide of a junior officer linked to the case. Both sides agreed that stronger oversight and cybersecurity measures are needed to prevent future breaches.