Sri Lanka, May 10 -- The Free Lawyers organisation has accused the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance of attempting to protect the real culprits in a controversial payment involving the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Treasury.

In a statement, the organisation claimed that the eight-page report seeks to shield senior officials while placing responsibility on lower-level officers and computer systems.

It further alleged that the committee has failed to fulfil its statutory responsibilities under Standing Order 121, describing the report as a mere compilation of facts rather than a substantive investigation.

The organisation also criticised the committee for allegedly granting around one month of additional time to those linked ...