New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:

Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.

According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.

The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.

The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).

Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”

USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.

Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.

Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.

On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday revealed that a USD 625,000 payment made by Sri Lanka’s Department of Posts to the US Postal Service (USPS) had not been received by the intended party.

The declaration was made at the post-Cabinet media briefing.

According to the Minister, an investigation has been initiated into the incident.

The Minister said that an investigation was underway within the Sri Lanka Postal Department regarding the missing funds paid to the US Postal Service.

He added that the US Postal Service has indicated the non-receipt of a payment amounting to USD 625,000, and that investigations were being conducted by both the Postal Department and the CID to determine how the incident occurred.

Sri Lanka Cricket boss Shammi Silva finally walked back to the pavilion, calling time on his innings with a year still left on the clock. The entire Executive Committee followed suit, resigning en masse after a meeting yesterday. Their exits come into effect today, SLC Secretary Bandula Dissanayake confirmed to The Island.

Silva, elected for a two-year term in 2025, made a habit of winning cricket elections uncontested. This was his fourth straight victory at the polls, having taken over from his confidant and Nalanda College schoolmate Thilanga Sumathipala.

A heavyweight in the corridors of power, Shammi Silva remained a favourite among member clubs and stakeholders. But outside that inner circle, the murmurs grew louder. Public sentiment began to work against him ever so loudly in recent months. Sri Lanka’s inconsistent returns on the field and whispers of interference in cricketing matters meant the scoreboard wasn’t always in his favour.

His decision to back Pramodya Wickramasinghe as Chairman of Selectors raised eyebrows and the decision to remove Charith Asalanka from the captaincy, on the eve of a World Cup, surprised many.

The turning point came after the disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign. Then Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe attempted to pull the plug, sacking Shammi and his committee. Parliament backed the move, but Shammi bounced back, aided by influential allies like Sagala Ratnayaka.

Under the current government, the writing was on the wall and Shammi chose to walk before the umpire was called into action.

A talented all-round sportsman in his youth, Shammi represented Nalanda College in multiple disciplines and went on to play First Class cricket for Colombo Cricket Club, where he still serves as President. His seven-year stint at the helm of SLC was no flash in the pan – it matched the long stays of heavyweights like Gamini Dissanayake and Robert Senanayake.

by Rex Clementine