By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

The Central Bank Chief is in a soup for not duly notifying  Parliament of Sri Lanka’s bankruptcy, with Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman  Kiriella and Minister Bandula Gunawardena calling for a probe on the  former’s failure in his duty.  

The matter was initially raised by Mr. Kiriella who said  Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe had mentioned that Sri  Lanka’s foreign reserves were only $1.5 million when he took over and  could not provide an answer when questioned on the failure to inform  Parliament on the situation. “Central Bank Governor during a seminar for  MPs said that Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves were only $1.5 million when  he took over. I asked him why he did not inform Parliament and he could  not provide any answer. I raised this question as it is the legislature  which has power over finances,” Mr. Kiriella said.  

Also he called for the holding of any election immediately to  seek the people’s will. “A recent survey conducted by Sunday Times says  80 per cent of Sri Lanka’s population does not feel that President Ranil  Wickremesinghe had done a commendable job. This cannot be wrong as  surveys carried out by Sunday Times and Daily Mirror are usually  accurate,” he said.  

Meanwhile Minister Gunawardena who responded said the Central  Bank is legally bound to inform Parliament of the financial situation as  per section 113 of the Financial Act. “The Department of State Credit  is legally bound to inform the relevant institutions on the country’s  financial situation. Therefore an investigation has to be conducted on  the failure of Central Bank to report to Parliament on the financial  situation,” the Minister said.    

• Central Bank Governor during a seminar for  MPs said that Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves were only $1.5 million when  he took over