Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa addressed the controversy surrounding Deputy Minister of Vocational Education Nalin Hewage’s statement about Sri Lanka’s Treasury reserves, revealing official figures during the Cabinet’s weekly media briefing on Monday.
Jayatissa presented verified data from the Central Bank, outlining Sri Lanka’s official reserves from September 2024 to March 2025:
- September 2024: $5.99 billion
- October 2024: $6.47 billion
- November 2024: $6.45 billion
- December 2024: $6.12 billion
- January 2025: $6.06 billion
- February 2025: $6.08 billion
- March 2025: $6.51 billion
“If there has been any error, I request that these official figures released by the Central Bank be accepted,” Jayatissa said, countering Hewage’s recent claim that the Treasury held only $20 million when the National People’s Power (NPP) government took office. Hewage had further stated that the new government had increased reserves to $6.19 billion.
Hewage’s remarks, made during a rally in Galle ahead of the Local Government Elections, led to calls for clarification from government officials and sparked public debate.
