Cabraal urges pray-pal offerings

20 February 2014 03:58 am - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Colombo — Sri Lanka's central bank boss urged temples Wednesday to go hi-tech and accept electronic cash from worshippers as he blamed the custom of offering prayer money for a coin shortage.

Governor Nivard Cabraal told reporters the guardians of shrines in mainly Buddhist Sri Lanka should install a "tap-and-pray" system similar to the "tap-and-go" used for public transport in many nations.

"That way, God will also know who offered what," Cabraal said at a press conference, at which he also asked Sri Lankans to raid their piggy banks and put coins that they have stashed away back into circulation.

As part of the same drive, Cabraal said the central bank planned to send teams to collect coins that had been donated at religious sites in exchange for banknotes.

He was also negotiating with Hindu and Buddhist temples and Christian churches in neighbouring India to recover around 30 tonnes of Sri Lankan coins offered by visiting pilgrims.

Sri Lankan currency is not freely convertible in India. Sri Lankan coins are worthless for Indians unless they sell the coins for scrap metal.

Sri Lanka stands to save millions of dollars in mint charges if coins trapped in piggy banks and temples are freed up, officials said. (AFP)

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Comments - 12

Avatar Thursday, 20 February 2014 04:56 AM

Since most of the devotees are poor peasants and don't know a hang about electronic cash this scheme will surely make the temples 'bankoloth'!

hb Thursday, 20 February 2014 05:05 AM

People who donate large sums would anyway not use coins but do so in cheques/notes. Coins are mostly donated by low/middle income persons who cannot afford to give large sums. Are you asking the upasaka ammas/seeyas to use paypal?

Ruhunu Puthra Thursday, 20 February 2014 10:36 AM

"That way, God will also know who offered what," Cabraal said at a press Really don't know what to say! via DM Android App

Confused Thursday, 20 February 2014 10:48 AM

Hahaha interesting idea... is it the god or king need to know.. may be god came in his dream and gave him the idea.. via DM Android App

Melz Thursday, 20 February 2014 05:58 AM

Dear Mr. Cabraal, I like what you smoke..

Spitfire Thursday, 20 February 2014 06:03 AM

Mr Caballawa is living in crowd cuckoo land! He really is a dip stick who is scraping the bottom of the barrel to raise money by hook or by crook.

Hiru Thursday, 20 February 2014 06:12 AM

Yes, God truly knows who has given and taken what? You wait and see Mr. Cabraal until your and your friends' day come.

Minister Thursday, 20 February 2014 06:28 AM

Mr. Cab, Do you know that there is a God in the first place?

Azee Thursday, 20 February 2014 01:25 PM

Never mind the coins to be collected within Sri Lanka , but when did. Cabraal go and weigh the coins in India to know that there are coins weighing 30 tons there ? via DM Android App

Jerry Peck Thursday, 20 February 2014 11:43 AM

This seems like a "Cents Less" idea :)

para Thursday, 20 February 2014 03:37 PM

The problem lies somewhere else. Scrap value is higher than the face value. Best option is to introduce new series of alu coins.

Just Another Citizen Thursday, 20 February 2014 03:54 PM

So if something goes wrong with the system and takes more money, do we need to ask God for a refund?

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Cabraal urges pray-pal offerings

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