CB currency removal during 2015 Presidential poll comes under scanner
View(s):The Sri Lankan Government has decided to initiate investigations into the alleged transport of money worth Rs.13 billion in bags from the Central Bank to Temple Trees a few days before the 2015 Presidential election, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told a media conference in Colombo on Thursday.
Police and the Financial Crime investigation Division (FCID) have been directed to conduct investigations to find out persons responsible for dispatching such a huge number of currency notes and as to how the money had been removed from the Central Bank and transported to Temple Trees, he disclosed.
“The police and FCID sleuths will have to find out as to how this money was being circulated and among whom during and after 2015 presidential elections”, he said.
A recent detection of Rs.5000 currency notes with serial numbers different from the currency notes currently in circulation which were in the possession of protest demonstrators in Hambantota and several other areas has prompted the government to initiate this investigation, Minister Karunanayake pointed out.
This incident took place during the tenure of former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, he said adding that “a group of Central Bank stooges who received benefits” during the previous regime is trying to sabotage monetary and regulatory functions of the bank with the aim of bringing disrepute to the government. (Bandula)