Mahendran gives statement on bond issue at COI

Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran arriving with his lawyers at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry yesterday – Pic by Lasantha Kumara

Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran yesterday gave a statement at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to look into the controversial Bond sale issue. However, the public were not allowed to be present during the statement as it was received by commission members, including police officers, in response to an allegation.

The commission has been hearing evidence from senior Central Bank and other officials including the former head of the Public Debt Department during the past several days, in sessions which were open to media. The former Governor is likely to reappear before the commission next week when it will hear evidence into the allegations against Mahendran. Those sessions will be open to the public.   Entertaining a request, Joint Opposition Parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardena was given an opportunity to make a statement before the commission on Thursday. However, the Parliamentarian, who had also been the Finance Minister during the previous regime, was severely criticised for making misleading statements to the media and was advised not to do so in the future.