National People’s Power (NPP) Parliamentarian Chandan Sooriyaarachchi stated that the issue was not a targeted or premeditated fraud, but rather the result of weaknesses in communication processes.
According to the MP, in January 2026, a payment of USD 2.5 million intended for an Australian export finance institution was mistakenly transferred to a different account after hackers allegedly interfered by altering email details. He added that authorities acted promptly upon discovering the incident, initiating necessary legal and administrative measures.
MP Sooriyaarachchi further revealed that a similar attempt was detected in a separate payment scheduled to India, where incorrect banking details had been provided. However, swift intervention by government officials prevented any financial loss in that instance.
Responding to opposition claims of a cover-up, the MP emphasized that the government had withheld public disclosure until preliminary investigations were completed, as part of standard procedure followed by responsible administrations.
He also rejected accusations that the government intentionally suppressed information, noting that premature disclosure could have compromised efforts to recover the misdirected funds and allowed cybercriminals to alter their tactics.
Investigations into the incident are currently being conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Computer Crimes Division. In addition, internal disciplinary inquiries have been launched against relevant officials.
The government maintains that appropriate safeguards and legal actions are underway to address the situation and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
