"This government will never intervene in activities of multi-millionare businessmen" - Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka

COLOMBO (News 1st):- Former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal commented on the bond scam during a recent meeting organized by the Sri Lanka Trade Development Council in Weligama. He said "I hope you recall the manner in which the then Central Bank Governor and the former Prime Minister lied stating that interest rates are low and that it should be increased. If the rates are increased up to 3% then the cost goes up by Rs 225 billion. Two Norochcholai coal power plants can be constructed using this money. This is the financial burden borne by the government and the businesses. This massive burden must be reduced. It is said that the country has to pay back a debt of USD 4.8 billion this year. This would rise by Rs. 250 billion if the rupee depreciates by Rs 50. Then the Parliament will have to allocate funds towards this through the Appropriation Bill. This money should be recovered from businesses, by imposing taxes, and by obtaining loans. When that is done, interest rates will continue to rise." Meanwhile, concerns were also raised on the political forum with regard to punishing the perpetrators of the Central Bank bond scam. Speaking on the bond scam Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said: "Arjun Aloysius and Namal Rajapaksa are very close friends. It was Arjun Aloysius who funded Namal Rajapaksa's election campaign. The companies owned by both these individuals worked in collaboration with each other. Although the government said it would arrest the culprits behind the bond scam with the motive of obtaining votes, they permitted Arjun Aloysius to fly overseas. Permissions were not granted to that effect under our government. The government will never intervene in the activities of millionaire businessmen. The thieves should be punished. During their time, Ajith Nivard Cabraal too was involved in a similar scam. They should also face that. We wish to tell the government to punish all these culprits." Meanwhile JVP MP, Vijitha Herath also commenting on the issue said: "They made a huge hue and cry claiming that Arjuna Mahendran would be arrested irrespective of the country in which he is seeking refuge. However, they have failed to do so. Why is that? It was not only Arjuna Mahendran who was involved in the bond scam. Sunil Handunnetti identified the other culprits who were behind this scam. This included Ajith Nivard Cabraal. When he was the Central Bank Governor, it was his sister Shiromi Wickramasinghe who was the CEO of Perpetual Treasuries Limited. When Ranil Wickremesinghe's government came, Arjuna Mahendran was the Central Bank Governor while his brother in law was the owner of Perpetual Treasuries Limited. Then it was the brother and sister. Afterwards, it was the father-in-law and brother-in-law. With these relationships in place, how can Arjuna Mahendran be arrested? If Arjuna Mahendran is arrested, then Cabraal's deeds will also be exposed. His sister's theft will also be exposed. The mastermind behind these acts will also be exposed."