Why is the Treasury Secretary Avoiding the Committee? Harsha de Silva
01-May-2026.
COPF Chairman Harsha de Silva has stated that the excuse given by Treasury Secretary Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma, claiming he can appear only after the President addresses Parliament, is unacceptable.
He stressed that the Treasury Secretary is obligated to answer the committee’s questions. If he has been wrongly accused, this would be an opportunity for him to establish the truth and reject the allegations. “But why is he running away? What is he trying to hide?” de Silva questioned.
Harsha de Silva further said that as the serving Treasury Secretary, Suriyapperuma has a responsibility to fulfil. If he cannot do so, he should hand over the responsibility to someone capable.
He made these remarks in response to the Treasury Secretary’s decision not to appear before the COPF.
De Silva stated that it is unacceptable for the Treasury Secretary to inform in writing that he cannot appear at the COPF meeting scheduled for 30-04-2026 to discuss issues related to the fraudulent transfer of USD 2.5 million.
He noted that under the Constitution, Parliament holds full authority over public finance. Under Standing Orders, COPF has direct responsibility to oversee key matters including debt repayments. The Treasury Secretary being summoned is not optional, but a constitutional duty of the committee.
He reiterated that Suriyapperuma is obligated to answer questions and that his refusal reflects a disregard for parliamentary authority, especially significant in the post-economic crisis period.
De Silva pointed out that this is particularly important since Suriyapperuma is the first politician to be appointed to this crucial civil service post. Prior to his appointment, he served as a Government MP and was also a member of COPF.
He warned that such unilateral action undermines the parliamentary oversight mechanism introduced after the 2022 economic collapse, where COPF leadership was assigned to an Opposition MP.
He further said that this act violates commitments made to the International Monetary Fund on governance reforms. Therefore, the Treasury Secretary’s excuse that he can only appear after the President’s speech is unacceptable.
