Central Bank’s classified information being leaked, charges UPFA

By Jayashika Padmasiri

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) yesterday said that classified information of the Central Bank (CB) is being leaked under the present regime and demanded the resignation of Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran.

UPFA Parliamentarian Prof. G.L. Peiris addressing a press conference stated that Mahendran had no loyalty towards Sri Lanka as he was not a Sri Lankan citizen but a Singaporean citizen and had sworn in an affidavit to be partial only to Singapore and not to any other nation. 

“Without any shame Mahendran is saying that he has no loyalty towards Sri Lanka. This is the person who is signing Sri Lankan money notes. Two Cabinet Ministers also opposed Mahendran’ appointment as CB Governor. However, today the CB is under the management of a foreigner and he is in charge of the country’s financial policy. Is such a person suitable to hold this position?” he questioned. 

Peiris further stated that apart from Mahendran, several other parties were also involved in the controversial CB Treasury Bond fiasco.

“The Treasury Bond Probe Committee Report which was tabled in Parliament recently stated that a complete investigation should be conducted regarding the role played by the Bank of Ceylon in this incident. Mahendran has no connections with the Bank of Ceylon. Therefore, this story has gone far from Mahendran. That is why we are asking for a debate about this issue in Parliament but the Government is not allowing this debate to take place, because it has a lot to hide in this regard. We urge the Government to hold an unbiased investigation into this matter,” Peiris said. 

Meanwhile, UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardane who was also present at the press conference said that actions such as the Bond fiasco had resulted in breaking down the trust people had in the Sri Lankan bank system.

“Even the committee is saying that this is a crucial problem as Government institutions are involved in this issue. They have said that people who want to investigate this issue can proceed with the investigations. When we ask for a debate in Parliament about this, the Government is not allowing that debate to take place. Today classified information of the CB is being leaked, unlike during any other regime,” he charged. 

Gunawardane also demanded Mahendran’s resignation. 

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