Ravi lauds President's recent remarks on CBSL officials

COLOMBO (News1st) : Former finance minister Ravi Karunanayake has lauded the President's remarks accusing central bank officials of failing in their duties to uplift the economy. "Do these officials have to wait to be instructed to perform their duties?," Karunanayake, the assistant leader of the United National Party, queried during a media briefing on Thursday. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday blamed central bank officials for failing in their responsibilities, a move that prompted more relief schemes, and a reduction in Statutory Reserve Ratio rates. "I am happy that the president has joined us in support of what we fought for the last 5 years," Karunanayake told reporters. The UNP Assistant Leader, responding to queries, claimed that he is unaware as to whether Arjuna Mahendran, a former central bank governor was appointed based on political considerations. "Legally it was Maithripala Sirisena who appointed him. But it was done based on the request of the then prime minister," he noted. Karunanayake remained confident that not a single person involved in the central bank bond scam, is at the UNP headquarters in Sirikotha. "There is not a single person, I state this with responsibility," he noted.