Former Parliamentarian Tissa Kuttiarachchi has sharply criticised the alleged theft of US$ 2.5 million from the General Treasury of Sri Lanka by hackers, calling for accountability over the incident.

Commenting on the reported financial fraud, Kuttiarachchi said national assets should not be allowed to leave the country in such an insecure manner, adding sarcastically, “At least don’t send it out in sacks of rice pieces.”

He further claimed that the country’s Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Finance Minister, should bear direct responsibility for the loss caused to the country.

“The loss suffered by the country must be recovered from the Finance Minister,” he said.

Kuttiarachchi also alleged that the incident involving the Treasury was not accidental but a theft, and urged authorities to enforce the law and punish those responsible.

He added that accountability must be established over the alleged cyber breach and resulting financial loss.