The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) has officially received the General Treasury’s report concerning a suspected cyber fraud incident involving USD 2.5 million that was allegedly diverted from its intended recipient.
The funds were reportedly meant to be transferred to an Australian company but were instead redirected to another party under circumstances that are now under investigation.
Speaking following a meeting of the Committee on Wednesday (04), CoPF Chairman and Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva confirmed that the report had been distributed among committee members for review.
According to Dr. de Silva, the committee will carefully examine the findings contained in the report before holding further discussions with the Secretary to the Treasury during its next meeting scheduled for next week.
The case has attracted significant attention due to the amount of money involved and concerns surrounding cybersecurity and financial governance within public institutions.
Reports indicate that the General Treasury initially attempted to deliver the report to the private residence of the CoPF Chairman. However, Dr. de Silva reportedly declined to accept the document, maintaining that official reports intended for parliamentary oversight should be submitted through the proper institutional channels rather than delivered to a private address.
As a result, the report was returned and subsequently submitted through the appropriate parliamentary process.
The alleged diversion of USD 2.5 million has raised questions about internal financial controls, payment verification procedures, and the growing threat posed by cyber-enabled financial fraud. Experts note that such incidents highlight the importance of robust cybersecurity systems and strict oversight mechanisms, particularly when handling large international financial transactions.
The Committee on Public Finance is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the transaction, assess whether existing safeguards were sufficient, and determine whether further action or recommendations are necessary.
The upcoming discussions with Treasury officials are likely to focus on how the incident occurred, what measures were taken in response, and what steps can be implemented to prevent similar cases in the future.
The matter remains under review, with further details expected to emerge following the committee’s deliberations and consultations with senior financial officials.
