News

Ravi denies being in charge of Central Bank during bond scam

Published

4 months ago

2025/12/4

Ravi

Former Finance Minister and NDF MP Ravi Karunanayake yesterday told Parliament that the Central Bank had not been under his purview when the bond scams took place.

“At no point during my tenure as the Minister of Finance I was assigned the Central Bank. This is the first time I am publicly mentioning this,” Karunanayake said.

He said so making a special statement under the provisions of the Section 27/8 Standing Order of Parliament. The Standing order provides for a personal explanation that could be made by an MP for the purpose of vindicating the personal conduct of that MP in response to a reference which has been made by another MP in the House while he was not present in the House.

Karunanayake said that he was making the special statement with the intention of rectifying a statement made by Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, on 26 November, to the House, where she was answering a question pertaining to the Bond Scam. The Central Bank was under then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and the State and Private Banks were under the then Minister Kabir Hashim.

The Central Bank had always been under the Minister of Finance, except during the time that I held the office of Finance Minister,” Karunanayake said.

He said that incumbent Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya’s statement on Nov 26 to the House implied that he was responsible for the Bond Scam. “That implication is a violation of my rights. It is misleading and damaging my rights. I make this statement not against PM Amarasuriya personally but to rectify the error and to set the record straight,” Karunanayake said.

Karunanayke said that PM Amarasuriya had stated that her answer was grounded in the recommendations contained in the Report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry. “This is factually incorrect and misleading, for the Presidential Commission of Inquiry in their entire report did not find me guilty of anything or find me wanting in any way whatsoever,” he said.

The full text of MP Karunanayake’s statement: “I rise to bring to your notice a serious matter concerning a violation of my parliamentary privileges, and to seek your leave to make a personal explanation in terms of Standing Orders 21 and 27.

On 26 November 2025, during answers given in this House relating to the 2015 Treasury Bond issue — a matter pending before court for nearly five years — the Prime Minister made a statement that had the effect of attributing ministerial responsibility to me in a manner that is factually incorrect, misleading, and damaging to my reputation as a Member of Parliament.

In her response, the Prime Minister stated that her position regarding those responsible for the Central Bank bond transactions was “based on the recommendations contained in the Report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI).”

Although she did not expressly say that “the Central Bank came under Minister Ravi Karunanayake,” the clear implication of her answer — particularly when citing the PCoI — was that I bore ministerial responsibility for the Central Bank and its actions during that period. This implication is entirely incorrect, unsupported by the PCoI, and directly contradicted by the official Gazette notifications issued under Article 44(1) of the Constitution.

According to the Prime Minister’s response, I was described as “the Minister in charge of Finance” during the time of the alleged bond transactions, suggesting that ministerial authority over commercial banks rested with me. This is false. It misrepresents my official role, misleads the House, and prejudices ongoing judicial proceedings.

Mr. Speaker, at no point during my tenure as Minister of Finance I was assigned the subject of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The constitutional and administrative record (gazette ) is unambiguous:

The Central Bank has historically and at all times been under the Minister of Finance, except exceptionally , during the period I held that office. I did not exercise ministerial oversight over the Central Bank, its Monetary Board, or its regulatory actions during my tenure.

Ministerial oversight on the Central Bank had been assigned to the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Ranil Wickremesinghe. Cabinet records, Gazette notifications, and administrative circulars confirm this position beyond any dispute.

Similarly, commercial banks at the time in question fell under the purview of the Minister of Public Enterprise Development, Kabir Hashim.

His portfolio included State banks, Commercial banks, Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank, National Savings Bank (NSB), SME Bank, and Banking governance functions.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, the Prime Minister stated that her answer was grounded in the recommendations contained in the Report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry. This is factually incorrect and misleading , for the Presidential Commission of Inquiry in their entire report did not find me guilty of anything or find me wanting in any way whatsoever.”

By Saman Indrajith

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Electricity tariffs to be increased from 1st April

Published

9 hours ago

2026/03/30

Priyan

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has granted approval to increase electricity tariffs with effect from 1st April .

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) requested a 13.56% electricity tariff revision for the second quarter of this year.

The revision announced by the PUCSL for domestic consumers:

0–30 units category, electricity tariffs will rise by 4.3%,

31–60 units category, tariffs will rise by 6.9%,

61–90 units category, tariffs will rise by 6.9%,

91–120 units category, tariffs will rise by 7.2%,

Above 180 units, electricity tariffs will rise by 25.3%

The PUCSL has decided not to increase electricity tariffs for religious and charitable institutions that consume below 180 units monthly and a 9.6% increase for institutions that consume above 180 units.

Ectricity tariffs for the general and household consumer categories has been increased by 8%, while the electricity tariff increase for the industrial sector is 8.7%, the increase in tariff for government institutions is 14.4%.

News

A QR code system to be introduced for agricultural lands and other sectors requiring fuel

Published

18 hours ago

2026/03/30

Priyan

It was decided at the committee appointed to oversee the distribution of essential goods to appoint five officials from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to cover all ministries in order to examine fuel-related issues and undertake the necessary interventions.

It was further discussed that the responsibility of these officials would be to examine fuel-related issues arising in institutions under each ministry and to intervene in providing solutions by maintaining coordination with the Corporation.

These matters were discussed at a meeting of the committee appointed to oversee the distribution of essential goods, chaired by Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake held on Friday (27) at the Presidential Secretariat.

It was also noted, with particular attention, that requests have been made by industrialists indicating that the current fuel quota allocated to vehicles for the distribution of their products across the country is insufficient. It was further discussed that, if these concerns are not addressed, there is a likelihood of an increase in the prices of goods, which could in turn cause significant hardship to the public during the festive season.

The committee also discussed the issuance of fuel for the distribution of essential food items by state and private institutions, including supermarkets such as Sathosa, wholesale importers, tourism-related service providers, hotels and other service-providing organisations.

Accordingly, it was discussed that requests for fuel quotas submitted by these institutions should be carefully considered and prompt action taken as necessary and that such requests should be forwarded to the Ministry of Energy through the relevant ministries.

Attention was also drawn to the need for the swift implementation of a QR code system for the issuance of fuel to other sectors, including agriculture and the fisheries industry, based on letters issued on the recommendations of the relevant government officials, including agricultural research officers, instead of the previous method of direct fuel allocation.

Minister Bimal Rathnayake emphasised the need to ensure a continuous and properly managed fuel supply, with particular focus on providing goods to the public without shortages and preventing excessive price increases during the forthcoming Sinhala and Hindu New Year season.

The discussion was attended by a group of government officials, including Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, Deputy Minister of Power Arkam Ilyas, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Kapila Janaka Bandara and Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, D. J. Rajakaruna.

News

Inquiry into female employee’s complaint: Retired HC Judge’s recommendations ignored

Published

22 hours ago

2026/03/30

Thilina Walpola

Speaker Wickramaratne receiving the report from retired HC Judge Alahapperuma. Secretary General of Parliament Rohanadeera stands next to the Speaker (file photo)

Parliament:

… sexual harassment claims dismissed

Recommendations made by retired High Court Judge Ms. Sujatha Alahapperuma, following an inquiry into claims by a female employee of the Department of Information Systems and Management of Parliament, regarding sexual harassment, denial of due salary increments and other forms of harassment, were yet to be implemented, sources familiar with the investigation said.

The retired HC Judge handed over the report to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne on 24 November, 2025. Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera was also present on that occasion.

The retired judge has recommended that administrative decisions be taken expeditiously to grant her salary increments due for 2024 and 2025, reevaluation of all employees attached to the Department of Information Systems and Management and keep them under close scrutiny and strengthening of the ‘Helpdesk’ to meet the requirements.

Sources said that none of the recommendations have been implemented and the concerned employee in spite of still being the Senior Helpdesk coordinator remained attached to the Supplies and Services Office. She had been ordered to report to the Supplies and Services Office in January 2025 following a continuing dispute with the top management of the Department of Information Systems and Management.

Parliamentary Staff Advisory Committee on 25.07.2025 decided to conduct an external investigation into the issue after the employee refused to accept the outcome of the internal inquiry conducted in the wake of SJB lawmaker Mujibur Rahman raising the issue in Parliament.

The retired judge has emphasised the urgent need to take tangible measures to address administrative issues with a view to enhance discipline and human resources management among other issues.

However, the retired judge has declared that the complainant or any other female employee attached to the of Department of Information Systems and Management hadn’t been subjected to any form of sexual harassment as alleged.

The retired judge further asserted that the complainant had been prejudicially treated by two interview boards when she appeared before them seeking posts of Database Administrator and Parliament Officer.

The retired judge has also asserted that the Supplies and Services Office where the complaint continued to serve even now was not suitable and not in line with her qualifications. Some of those who had appeared before the retired judge during the inquiry claimed that was a temporary transfer. However, the report dismissed that claim declaring that transfer appeared to have been done outside acceptable procedure and her increments stopped without giving any justifiable reason.

The retired judge has stated that for want of proper procedures and systems, the administration seems to be in turmoil.

By Shamindra Ferdinando