By The Pulseline News Desk
The parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) is set to examine a report on the controversial transfer of US$ 2.5 million in Treasury funds that were reportedly intended for an Australian company but were instead paid to an unauthorised third party, a matter that has sparked concerns over financial controls within the state sector.
COPF Chairman Harsha de Silva has informed committee members on Thursday (4) that the report had been distributed among all members for review. The committee is expected to study its findings before holding discussions with the Secretary to the Treasury next week regarding the circumstances that led to the payment.
The issue first came to light after questions were raised about how a substantial Treasury payment was diverted from its intended recipient. The transaction has since become the subject of parliamentary scrutiny, with legislators seeking to establish whether established financial procedures were bypassed and whether adequate safeguards were in place to prevent such an occurrence.
According to parliamentary sources, the report was submitted through official channels after de Silva reportedly rejected an attempt to deliver it to his private residence. The COPF chairman is said to have maintained that any document requested by the committee in the exercise of its oversight responsibilities should be submitted formally to Parliament to ensure transparency and accountability.
COPF, one of Parliament’s key financial oversight bodies, is mandated to examine government revenue, expenditure, and broader public financial management practices. In recent years, the committee has played an increasingly active role in investigating financial irregularities and scrutinising the use of public funds.
The controversy surrounding the US$ 2.5 million transfer comes at a time when Sri Lanka continues efforts to strengthen public financial governance following the country’s economic crisis. Successive administrations have pledged to improve accountability, enhance transparency in state institutions, and prevent the misuse of public funds.
Committee members are expected to closely examine the report’s findings before questioning Treasury officials on the sequence of events that led to the disputed payment. The discussions are likely to focus on whether internal controls failed, who authorised the transaction, and what measures are required to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The outcome of the committee’s inquiry could have significant implications for public financial management and may lead to recommendations aimed at strengthening oversight mechanisms across government institutions.
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