Sri Lanka, April 22 -- A payment of $2.5 million released by the General Treasury to settle a foreign debt failed to reach the intended recipient and was reportedly diverted to a computer hacker or a third party, according to the 'FREE LAWYERS' organisation.

The chairman of the organisation, President's Counsel Maithri Gunarathne, sent a letter to the Speaker of Parliament requesting a formal investigation into the incident.

The organisation noted that while the Central Bank of Sri Lanka previously managed foreign debt, installment, and interest repayments, these responsibilities shifted to the Department of External Resources and the Public Debt Management Office following the passage of the new Finance Act.

Consequently, these specif...