The Committee on Public Finance (COPF), chaired by MP Harsha de Silva, has decided to summon senior officials from the Finance Ministry, including Secretary to the Treasury Harshana Suriyapperuma, on April 30. The move comes in response to a reported cyber breach that resulted in the loss of approximately USD 2.5 million.
The decision was made during a COPF meeting held on April 28, where members discussed the circumstances surrounding the alleged cybercrime. According to officials, the funds were part of a USD 22.9 million debt settlement payment. However, instead of reaching the intended recipient, the money was reportedly diverted by cybercriminals who had infiltrated a computer system within the Finance Ministry.
Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa previously confirmed that the transaction had been compromised and stated that investigations into the incident are currently underway.
The upcoming COPF hearing is expected to focus on how the breach occurred, the safeguards in place at the time, and the steps being taken to recover the lost funds and prevent similar incidents in the future.
This incident has raised concerns over cybersecurity measures within key government institutions, particularly in the handling of sensitive financial transactions. Further developments are anticipated following Thursday’s proceedings.
