Government Undermining Parliament’s Financial Authority: MP Shanakiyan

01-May-2026

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MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, a member of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and Group Leader of the Sri Lanka Tamil Arasu Party, stated that Treasury Secretary Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma’s refusal to appear before COPF to explain the USD 2.5 million fraud case undermines Parliament’s financial authority.

He made these remarks when questioned about the Treasury Secretary’s written notice stating he would not appear before the committee.

Shanakiyan said the COPF has the responsibility to investigate the controversial payment of USD 2.5 million made by the Treasury to an Australian company.

He noted that there is a widespread suspicion as to whether the fraud was truly caused by hackers or whether it was a coordinated scam, and that there are reasonable grounds for such doubts.

He added that when Opposition members continuously insisted on summoning the Treasury Secretary to seek clarification, Government members opposed the move.

In this situation, COPF decided at its meeting held the previous day to summon the Treasury Secretary to appear today. However, Suriyapperuma informed in writing that he would not appear.

According to Shanakiyan, Suriyapperuma claimed he could not attend because the President, in his capacity as Finance Minister, would deliver a special statement in Parliament on May 5.

He stressed that the Treasury Secretary’s stance undermines Parliament’s financial authority and reflects the Government’s lack of transparency. He strongly condemned the refusal to respond responsibly to the questions raised regarding the fraud.