SL currency notes signed by Mahendran Opposition to seek SC interpretation

By Lahiru Pothmulla   

In the wake of a court case filed challenging Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s citizenship, the Opposition said yesterday, it would seek a Supreme Court interpretation on the validity of the currency notes signed by Central Bank’s former governor Arjuna Mahendran, a Singaporean national.  

MP Dr. Bandula Gunawardana told a news conference Mr. Mahendran was never a Sri Lankan though he signed Sri Lanka’s currency notes as the then CB governor.   

“According to Singaporean laws, no Singaporean can hold dual citizenship. Therefore, Mr. Mahendran always was and is a Singaporean national. No foreign national is allowed to hold office in Sri Lanka let alone sign currency notes. This was an issue we raised previously as well but gave in after the bond commission was appointed, because we thought proper legal action will be taken following the commission’s recommendations. It didn’t happen and today, the government is targeting Gotabaya Rajapaksa over his citizenship when he has evidently abandoned his US citizenship and is a Sri Lankan citizen now,” he said.   

Dr. Gunawardana said the Opposition’s legal team was studying the legal aspect of Mr. Mahendran signing Sri Lankan currency notes while remaining as a Singaporean national.   
“This raises the question whether the notes signed by Mr. Mahendran are valid since he is not a Sri Lankan,” he said.