CB Dep. Governor Samarasiri retires
View(s):Deputy Governor Central Bank P. Samarasiri on Friday retired from the banking regulator in a career that was plagued by allegations of complicity in the Central Bank (CB) bond scam under former Governor Arjuna Mahendran’s watch.
Earlier attempts by former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, to extend his term (from August 18 when he reaches 60 years) were unsuccessful. The retiring banker is represented by his own lawyer at the ongoing sessions of the bond Commission which has revealed many hitherto unheard of developments, leading also to the resignation of Mr. Karunanayake from his recently-appointed post of Foreign Minister.
CB sources said that the Monetary Board on August 11 conducted interviews for the vacant post on Mr. Samarasiri’s retirement and four Assistant Governors C.P.J. Siriwardena (appointed in 2010 to his current post), S.R. Attygalle (2014 and currently serving as Deputy Secretary to the Treasury), H.A. Karunaratne (2014) and R.A. Jayalath (2016). The Board has sent its nominee to the post to the Finance Ministry for approval. Earlier unions opposed attempts to extend the terms of Mr. Samarasiri and Deputy Governor S. Lankatillake who retired on April 30.