COPE begins preliminary inquiries into alleged CB bond scam

By Kelum Bandara
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), a parliamentary watchdog committee, this week started preliminary inquiries into the alleged bond scam at the Central Bank, Mirror Business learns. 
The COPE has sought details about the matter, but it is learnt that some officials of the Central Bank declined to oblige initially. 

 However, some members of the COPE including those representing the ruling side insisted that details related to the alleged scam should be made available to the parliamentary body.

Meanwhile, two government ministers, S.B. Dissanayake and Mahinda Amaraweera, stressed in Parliament on Thursday that Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran should not be granted a service extension. Governor Mahendran’s tenure ends this month.  Minister Dissanayake said it would be inappropriate for the government to reappoint him, and requested President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to let him go. 

“The President also mentioned about him (Mahendran) during a speech. Normally, a government official resigns whenever such a situation arises against him,” he said.
Minister Amaraweera said he stood by his criticism against Mahendran. “We will object if he is re-appointed,” he said.