• Opposition Whip says the Central Bank Governor failed to inform Parliament on country’s bankruptcy

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Both government and opposition MPs seemed to be coming in for a collision course with the Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe. This was evident when one Minister told Parliament that the latter had made a startling remark on finances while a prominent member in the opposition declared that they do not trust Mr. Weerasinghe.   

Minister Bandula Gunawardena said the recent remark made by the Central Bank Governor is grave. “The Governor has said that future governments as well as the incumbent government are bound to carry out the IMF recommended programme. This is a grave statement. It is the legislature which has power over finances. It is Parliament which should decide on the economy. Therefore we want a three day debate on the remarks made by the Central Bank Governor, “the Minister said.  

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana who responded said the party leaders must decide on the debate.  

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said his party does not trust the current Central Bank Governor. “Central Bank Governor failed to inform Parliament on the country’s bankruptcy. We questioned him on the country’s foreign reserves in 2022 during a meeting. He responded by saying SL only had $ 20 million as reserves in 2022. It was only then we got to know that the country had gone bankrupt. We cannot trust him because of this conduct on his part,” he said.