By The Pulseline Nerws Desk
The investigation into the alleged fraudulent transfer of US$2.5 million in Treasury funds has reportedly entered another waiting phase, with investigators yet to receive key technical findings and information sought from five foreign countries.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has reportedly informed Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena on Wednesday (30 September) that the report of a five-member technical investigation committee appointed by the Ministry of Finance is still pending.
The development comes as investigators continue to examine what happened to more than US$2.5 million in government funds — worth over Rs. 800 million — allegedly transferred to a group of computer hackers.
16 terabytes of data under forensic examination
The investigation has generated a substantial volume of digital evidence.
The CID has told court that 16 terabytes of computer data stored on hard drives recovered during the investigation had been handed over to the University of Colombo for further forensic analysis.
The technical examination is expected to be significant in establishing how the alleged transfer was carried out and identifying the digital trail connected to the transaction.
The CID had previously sought an order to obtain copies of the email data system of the Department of Public Debt Management and make them available to the technical committee appointed under the leadership of the University of Colombo.
The committee’s findings have therefore become an important component of the broader investigation.
International trail remains incomplete
The investigation has also moved beyond Sri Lanka’s borders.
The CID’s Computer Crime Division has reportedly told court that official requests had been sent to investigative authorities in five foreign countries under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (MLA).
The requests are aimed at obtaining information that could help investigators identify international networks allegedly connected to the transfer of the Treasury funds.
However, none of the requested information has been received so far.
Investigators have told court that they were continuing to follow up on the requests, meaning a key part of the alleged financial and digital trail remains outside the reach of the local investigation until the foreign responses arrive.
Court orders evidence to be expedited
With both the technical committee report and international information still pending, Magistrate Amarasena has ordered that the requested foreign information and the forensic reports from the University of Colombo be obtained and submitted to court without delay.
The case was postponed until December 16, when the court is expected to consider the further investigation report.
For now, the Treasury funds case remains dependent on two crucial strands of evidence – the forensic examination of the large volume of digital data recovered by investigators and information expected from foreign jurisdictions. Until those pieces are assembled, the full picture of how the US$2.5 million was allegedly diverted—and who was behind the transaction—remains under investigation.
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