Sri Lanka Loses Rs 23.49 Cr Meant To Settle Debt With Australia — Hackers Leave No Trace

Last Updated:April 23, 2026, 17:57 IST

Sri Lanka finance ministry loses $2.5 million in cyber hack, PDMO officers suspended as investigators and Australian officials probe diverted payment.

Sri Lanka’s finance ministry has been robbed off $2.5 million (Rs 23,48,94,625) after its website was hacked by cyber criminals, the government said on Thursday.

Finance ministry secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma said that the cyber criminals siphoned off $2.5 million, which was supposed to be for the debt repayment to Australia.

He further said that four senior officers at the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) were suspended after the breach. The PDMO was established earlier this year in line with an IMF-backed $2.9 billion bailout loan from early 2023, following the country’s economic meltdown.

According to AFP, the authorities were alerted to an attempt to break into the ministry’s e-mail server, and investigations showed that a $2.5 million payment owed to Australia had disappeared.

“Criminal investigators are looking into this and we are not in a position to give further details," Suriyapperuma said, adding that they have sought help from foreign law enforcement agencies regarding the matter.

Following the incident, Australia’s High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Matthew Duckworth, said in a post on X: “Sri Lankan authorities are investigating the matter and are coordinating with Australian officials, who are assisting the investigation."

“Australia remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s return to debt sustainability," he added.

Meanwhile, Daily Mirror reported that a complaint has been lodged with the Inspector General of Police calling for an immediate investigation into the matter. The complaint was filed by Convener of the Truth Seekers Movement and Attorney-at-Law Premnath C. Dolawatta.

The complaint stated that $2.5 million was paid by the Sri Lankan Treasury between December 2025 and January 2026. However, the local media reports stated that the payment was allegedly diverted to a third party.

According to the complaint, a “technical investigation committee" had been appointed on or around March 4, 2026, to probe the incident.

News world Sri Lanka Loses Rs 23.49 Cr Meant To Settle Debt With Australia — Hackers Leave No Trace

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