The Joint Opposition (JO) says it will hold countrywide protests, demanding the resignation of federalist Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for appointing Arjuna Mahendran to the post of Central Bank Governor as the latter has been found to be responsible for the bond scams by the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises.

Addressing the media at Dr. N. M. Perera Centre in Borella, JO leader Dinesh Gunawardena said yesterday for the first time in the history of the Central Bank coming under the purview of the PM and he had appointed a foreign citizen as the head of that institution in violation of the Constitution.

Gunawardena said that when Mahendran’s term ended, the Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had tried to reappoint him the allegations against him over the bond scams.

“We demand to freeze the accounts and all assets of the Perpetual Treasuries to recover the loss the bond scams have caused to the state” Gunawardena said.

Gunawardena said the PM had referred the COPE findings to the Attorney General, who was still silent on last year’s CID’s investigation into the same issue.

Former Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris insisted that the Perpetual Treasuries be fined and their Primary Dealer licence forthwith.

He said President Maithripala Sirisena should move to recover losses from the company.

Peiris said Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had given another appointment to Mahendran after the President refused to extend his term as Central Bank Governor and taken him on all foreign tours.

“That is why we demand the resignation of the PM” he said, adding that they would start a protest campaign countrywide.

Colombo District MP Wimal Weerawansa the PM had violated the law by appointing Mahendran, who was not a Sri Lankan citizen the Central Bank Governor.

Another two highways like the Southern Expressway and two power plants like Norachcholai could have been built with the funds lost due to bond scams, but the government kept on jacking up taxes without trying to prevent corruption.

“We will not allow Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to hush up the COPE findings and will take to the streets like in South Korea,” the former Minister said.

Matara District MP Dullas Alahapperuma said Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella had misled Parliament that 30 COPE reports under Mahinda Rajapaksa government had been relegated to the dustbin.

He said only 11 COPE reports had been issued under the Rajapaksa government and 14 COPE reports were issued under UNP MPs as chairmen.

Ratnapura District MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara said a Parliamentary Select Committee should be appointed to monitor the AG’s action as he was still silent over last year’s complaint against Mehendran.

Kandy District MP Mahindananada Aluthgamage said they would launch protests against Prime Minister Wickremesinghe.

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