Sajith Premadasa, the Leader of the Opposition and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has requested the formation of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to look into the unlawful transfer of Treasury funds totaling US$2.5 million to an external account. He emphasized that the Opposition should lead the Committee and hold a majority of its seats to guarantee fairness. According to Premadasa, the government has not only neglected to explain the loss of US$2.5 million but has also intentionally hidden information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), and the public. He accused the ruling party of trying to evade accountability by starting an internal departmental inquiry, which he claims is a biased effort aimed at reaching pre-set conclusions. The Opposition Leader asserted that only a clear and independent investigation could reveal the truth, and he believes this could be best achieved through a PSC led by the Opposition. He also cautioned that the government’s apparent failure to notify Parliament about the missing funds represents a significant lapse in accountability.
