Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser MP Namal Rajapaksa has warned that the government’s continued delay in appointing an Auditor General is jeopardising the country’s access to vital foreign aid.

Rajapaksa emphasised that this prolonged vacancy is detrimental to securing loans and assistance from major international organisations, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

“Any international institution provides aid subject to a formal audit. The government must realise the grave danger here: no country or organisation will come forward to provide assistance to a nation that lacks an Auditor General to conduct such audits,” Rajapaksa stated.

The post has remained vacant for eight months. Rajapaksa noted that the Constitutional Council recently blocked an attempt by the President to appoint a close associate to the position. He observed that this has led certain ministers to begin criticising the council’s role and decisions.

The MP further alleged that the primary motive behind the failure to appoint a qualified professional is the government’s desire to conceal fraud and corruption within the administration.