🚨 UNP Slams CoPF Report Over $ 2.5 Mn Debt Payment Fraud

• Political & Administrative Accountability: The United National Party (UNP) accused the government of shielding senior officials—specifically the Finance Minister and Treasury Secretary—in the Parliament’s Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) report detailing a $ 2.5 Mn foreign debt payment fraud. • Cybersecurity Failures: UNP highlighted that warnings from KPMG and SLCERT were ignored. The External Resources Department operated on an outdated 2016 email server whose security support ended in Oct 2025, leading to fraudulent transfers starting Nov 2025. • Governance & Transition Gaps: The party cited weak oversight during the transfer of sovereign debt management from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), noting that vital operational MoUs were delayed until March 2026—after the fraud occurred. • Selective Action: Mid-level officials were suspended while top leadership faced no direct accountability, prompting claims that the report acts as an "institutional shield" rather than enforcing true oversight.