Cabral holding government position questionable

By Yohan Perera   

UNP MP Mujibur Rahaman speaking at a press briefing queried as to why Ajith Nivard Cabral a person who has been accused of having brought losses to the government during his tenure as the head of the Central Bank, is not being removed from his current post of Prime Minister’s advisor.   

MP Rahman who came out with this remark at press briefing yesterday said it is questionable as to how Mr. Cabral could hold his current post when the report of the forensic audit carried out on the bond scam had revealed that the government has lost Rs.10 billion during his tenure as the Central Bank governor.   

Also, he said the report had revealed that EPF funds have been invested continuously despite repeated losses.   

“The notion that there has been only losses before 2015 and that there was a real day light robbery after that period is unacceptable as a robbery is a robbery no matter the period it had taken place” Mr. Rahman said.   

Also, he said the notion that there was nothing wrong in the Central Bank running at a loss during bond issues because some state institutions have benefited is also wrong as there was no overall real benefit to the government when one state institution suffers a loss while the other earns a profit.   

It is questionable as to how Mr. Cabral could hold his current post when the report of the forensic audit carried out on the bond scam had revealed that the government has lost Rs.10 billion during his tenure as the Central Bank governor

Asked as to why the UNP is requesting the present government to take action against the wrong doers despite the bond scam taking place during the last regime, Mr. Rahman said a court case has been filed against the prime suspect Perpetual Treasuries Chief during the last regime.   

He dismissed the allegation on the delay in completing the forensic audit saying such an audit is a time consuming one.   

Responding to a question as why he is not condemning Arjuna Mahendran who was the Central Bank Chief during the time when the scam came out, Mr. Rahman said his condemnation is not necessary as action was taken during the last regime.   

He recalled that the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) probed on the bond scam while an investigation was carried out by a presidential commission as well.   

• he notion that there has been only losses before 2015 and that there was a real day light robbery after that period is unacceptable as a robbery is a robbery no matter the period it had taken place