Central Bank to probe Rs.13 bln missing money allegation 

The Central Bank will probe allegations made by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake that bags carrying Rs.13 billion were sent from the Central Bank to Temple Trees a few days before the 2015 Presidential election, bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy said on Tuesday. 

He was responding to a question raised by a journalist at a media conference which followed the presentation of the ‘Road Map: Monetary and Financial Sector Policies for 2017 and beyond’ outlining the policies and strategies to be followed this year by the banking regulator. 

Dr. Coomaraswamy noted that the Central Bank has not detected such a shortage of currency notes in a preliminary investigation. But a comprehensive investigation is to be carried out into these allegations, he said adding that no one should be alarmed about the circulation of Rs. 500 currency notes with different serial numbers as there were no such complaints received from any part of the island. 

Last month the Finance Minister told a media conference that the Police Department and the Financial Crimes 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. 

“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. (Bandula)