Summon Central Bank officials before Privileges Committee: MP

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Colombo, April 11 (Daily Mirror) - Accusing Central Bank officials of continued unilateral conduct, opacity, arrogance or ignorance, and an apparent disregard for parliamentary accountability, Opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake yesterday called for the summoning of Central Bank officials before the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges.

"Over the past several months, I have submitted multiple questions, both to be answered in the House and at the committee level, directed at the Central Bank. These questions relate to matters of critical importance, including but not limited to the regulatory position on cryptocurrency transactions, the composition and utilisation of US dollar reserves, the independence and governance of the Central Bank, the legality and procedural basis of the 2022 debt standstill announcement without parliamentary approval, the operational scope and effectiveness of the Central Bank’s supervision, and recent allegations of financial irregularities involving NDB, which have extended into five to seven banks and nine non-banking financial institutions. Despite the gravity and urgency of these matters, these questions remain unanswered and have neither been addressed nor adequately responded to at committee proceedings. This pattern reflects not an isolated lapse, but a systematic failure of accountability and responsiveness,” MP Karunanayake said, raising a privilege issue.

“The Supreme Court, in numerous determinations, has consistently affirmed that public office bearers are bound to exercise due diligence, transparency and accountability in the discharge of their statutory and constitutional responsibilities. The deliberate or negligent withholding of information from Parliament strikes at the very heart of parliamentary sovereignty and oversight. As MPs, we are constitutionally entrusted, under Article 148 and the broader framework of representative democracy, with the responsibility of exercising control over public finance and holding institutions accountable. However, this duty becomes impossible when information is withheld,” he added, stressing that Central Bank officials be informed to comply with their obligations to provide timely and accurate information, and that the matter be referred to the Committee on Privileges.