INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr
Nandalal Weerasinghe stated that customers who have been inconvenienced due to the increase in the interest rates charged for the loans
obtained under variable interest rates in the past are able to get relief by negotiating with the bank.The Governor stated this when
Parliamentarians inquired regarding the aforesaid at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance, Economic Stabilization and National
Policies held yesterday (16) in Parliament chaired by the State Ministers of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Shehan Semasinghe.The
Members of Parliament pointed out that due to the increase in interest rates, the entire income of some creditors has to be paid for loan
The CBSL Governor said that customers can pay only the relevant interest for a grace period in consultation with the bank
He further added that instructions have been given to the banks in this regard.Also, the CBSL Governor said that the average inflation which
was at a value of 70% two months ago has now decreased to 66% and the food inflation which was at 95% has decreased to 85%
according to the conditions of the International Monetary Fund, a new act has been drafted to make the Central Bank an independent
institution and the necessary work is being done, the CBSL Governor added.Furthermore, the committee drew attention to the difficulty in
exchanging dollars to rupees by banks
State Ministers of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya asked the CBSL Governor regarding the stated issue to which the Governor responded saying
that the Central Bank has not given any advice that would cause such delays.State Minister Hon
Shehan Semasinghe also said that according to a report of the Department of Public Enterprises, 22 out of 126 institutions have not
submitted their annual reports for more than 5 years and some institutions have delayed the submission of annual reports for about 7
the heads of the institutions to submit the annual reports within the stipulated time.Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, Members of
the Committee Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, Sahan Pradeep Withana and Parliamentarians Secretary to the Treasury/Ministry of Finance,
Economic Stabilization and National Policies
K M Mahinda Siriwardana, officials representing the Ministry and institutions affiliated to it were present at the Committee meeting held.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
