Eran spotted using public transport to travel, says CB Governer post should not be politicized

I am of the view that a politician is not fitting to hold a position such as the Governor of the Central Bank, Deputy Minister of Public Enterprise Development Eran Wickramaratne says.

The observation was made while responding to Ada Derana while returning to Colombo following an event held in Kandy this afternoon. Ada Derana reporters spotted that the Deputy Minister had unusually chosen to travel to Colombo via train.

It would not be a good idea to politicize the post of the CB Governer, Wickramaratne told reporters.

The government is likely to appoint Deputy Minister of Public Enterprise Development Eran Wickramaratne as the next Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, according to political sources.  

However, the Deputy Minister said that he is unaware of such a decision and that he is currently engaged in politics.  

Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran’s term is set to end on June 30 while President Maithripala Sirisena expected to announce a permanent replacement by then.  

Civil society groups, trade unions, opposition politicians and SLFP Ministers have pressured the government not to extend the term of Mahendran, who has been accused last year of leaking inside information to his son-in-law’s firm, allegedly allowing it to make millions of dollars in profits from a central bank bond auction.