Treasury delays Lankaputhra Chairman’s removal
The Treasury is seen delaying the removal of Lankaputhra Bank Chairman Lasantha Goonewardena following the regulator’s order in June to do so in the light that he is unfit to hold the post. Asked whether an inquiry has been initiated by the Public Enterprises Ministry to look into the above issue, ministry secretary Ravindra Hewawitharana said that “It has to be a Treasury decision and it’s on their part.” He noted that since the Central Bank’s Bank Supervision Department had already stated that the said official is not fit to hold the post then the removal should be carried out and an inquiry was not required.
Mr. Hewawitharana noted that though his ministry did not receive information from the Central Bank requesting the removal, he had then written to the Treasury Secretary to take a decision based on a letter from the Lankaputhra Bank General Manager on the order. The Central Bank had informed the Treasury to carry out the removal of Chairman Goonewardena which is yet to be carried out, it is learnt. In the meantime, the GM/CEO at the bank Lasantha Amarasekara had been removed based on “general inefficiency” but has been granted leave to appeal his case.