UPFA MPs file complaint against Central Bank Governor
March 11, 2015 10:25 am
UPFA Parliamentarians Mahinda Amaraweera, Jagath Pushpakumara and Eric Weerawardena have gone to the Bribery Commission to file a complaint against the Governor of the Central Bank over the treasury bonds issue.
The Sri Lankan-born international banker, who was only appointed to the post on January 23, has been in the spotlight recently due to the controversy surrounding a Treasury bond issue by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
There had been rising concerns in bond markets over controversial deals made over the past week by Perpetual Treasuries, a firm connected to Arjun Aloysius, the son-in-law of Governor Arjuna Mahendran.
President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday appointed a three member committee to investigate alleged irregularities surrounding the bond issue.
The money markets were in an uproar on Friday, February 27 when the CB announced it was accepting bids worth Rs. 10 billion at 9.50-12.50 per cent whereas clients and most primary dealers had made bids between 9.50 and 10.50 per cent, not in the 11-12 per cent range. Only a few bids, including those by Perpetual Treasuries were made in the 12 per cent range.
The JVP has called for the Governor to step down until the probe launched into the bond issue is concluded.
