Questions have been raised in Sri Lanka over a reported administrative decision involving the transfer of authority related to foreign debt payments from the Central Bank to the Ministry of Finance, prompting calls for greater transparency and an independent forensic audit. Pubudu Jayagoda, Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party, publicly questioned who was responsible for the decision and why such a significant change in financial authority was made.
Speaking during a media inquiry, Jayagoda said the government must clearly explain to the country the reasoning behind shifting this responsibility and under what authority the decision was taken. He argued that the matter raises serious governance concerns, particularly regarding oversight and accountability in the management of national financial obligations.
He further stated that handing over investigative responsibility to the Ministry of Finance in relation to the same issue would be inappropriate, drawing a comparison that implied a lack of independence in the review process. Instead, he called for a forensic audit to properly examine the circumstances surrounding the decision.
Jayagoda also raised concerns about the timeline of events, questioning why the issue, which he said originated in December, had not been reported to Parliament for several months. He emphasized that financial authority constitutionally rests with the Minister of Finance rather than Parliament, but insisted that any such changes should have been discussed with the Parliamentary Public Finance Committee. He added that the apparent lack of disclosure and consultation raises suspicions that require clarification from the authorities.
