28 March 2019 07:29 pm
The Central Bank (CB) today decided to recommence issuing coins to the public after the practice was stopped following the Central Bank bomb blast on January 31, 1996, Central Bank director Tamara Wijesuriya said.
She said the Central Bank used to issue coins but it had been stopped after the attack on the Central Bank and the surrounding area being made a high-security zone.
Instead, the task of issuing coins to the public had been assigned to the Bank of Ceylon (BoC) at Gas Works Street.
“Now the CB does not have such a situation and yesterday decided to open counters to issue coins to the public to meet the demand that would arise during the festive season.
Two counters have been operating at the Central Bank from 9.00am to 11.00 am on Wednesday and Thursday every week. Coins equal to Rs.20,000 would be issued to an individual at a time. The coins are available in 100 piece packets in Rs.1, Rs. 2, Rs.5 and Rs.10 denominations,” Ms.Wijesuriya said.
If people need coins in bulk, the coin boxes would be issued according to the details filled in the application issued from the CB. Those filled applications should be given two days prior to the date of issue, she said. The Central Bank also requested the public to circulate more coins instead of keeping them in tills in order to minimise the dearth of coins, she added. (Indika Sri Aravinda)