Finance Ministry Secretary Must Resign: Main Opposition
24-Apr-2026.
SJB MP Mujibur Rahman demanded the immediate resignation of the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, or his removal by the President, over the alleged fraud involving USD 2.5 million meant to be paid from the Treasury to an Australian institution.
He questioned why the major fraud, said to have occurred in December, had been concealed for four months, and criticised the decision to appoint an investigation committee consisting of Finance Ministry officials, calling it equivalent to “handing responsibility to the thief.”
He also called for President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Finance Minister, to be summoned before a Parliamentary Select Committee.
Speaking at a press conference at the SJB office in Colombo on April 23, MP Rahman said it has been reported that the USD 2.5 million debt instalment payment was diverted to another account.
He asked why the matter had been suppressed for months and why no complaint had been lodged with the Criminal Investigation Department.
He claimed the investigation committee appointed by the Secretary and Additional Secretary includes only Finance Ministry officials, undermining credibility.
He insisted the Finance Secretary must take full responsibility and resign immediately or be removed. He further alleged the official is a political appointee with no experience in the public sector.
He accused the government of promoting transparency and anti-corruption during elections while now attempting to conceal facts. He also alleged the secretary of the committee investigating the coal procurement scandal had been involved in the President’s election campaign, raising doubts about the independence of such committees.
He noted that former leaders had appeared before inquiry committees in the past, including Ranil Wickremesinghe for the bond scam probe and Maithripala Sirisena for the Easter attacks inquiry, and said President Dissanayake should likewise be summoned.
He expressed concern that government MPs had used their majority to defeat the request.
He concluded that despite attempts to suppress the truth, it will inevitably surface, comparing it to a rubber ball forced underwater.
