President’s office denies newspaper report on Cabraal

March 17, 2022 at 10:42 AM

The President’s Media Division (PMD) has refuted a news report published in a local newspaper on the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Ajith Nivard Cabraal.

The newspaper had reported that “it is speculated that Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal will resign soon, after orders by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and subsequent advice received from Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.”

The report further said the orders have been issued in light of President Rajapaksa’s discussion with officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday (15).

Issuing a clarification, the PMD said it has requested a correction on the front page news report titled “CABRAAL ASKED TO STEP DOWN UPON IMF ADVICE.”

“With reference to the above lead story in today’s edition, we wish to categorically state that there is absolutely no truth in the news item that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had asked CBSL Governor Cabraal to resign,” the PMD’s statement said.

The PMD further said that the newspaper report that the IMF delegation had laid down such a condition is a total canard. 

The IMF did not discuss officials and the talks covered only the monetary issues. The President and the Government have the fullest confidence in the CBSL Governor and there is no reason whatsoever to seek his resignation, the PMD said. 

Meanwhile, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has stressed there is no truth in the report that the CBSL Governor was asked to step down.

“The news stories that Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal has been requested to step down is completely false. Governor Cabraal enjoys my fullest confidence and trust and has been a tower of strength in responding to the grave economic challenges faced by the country. The IMF delegation did not discuss officials, and the talks, at which Governor Cabraal too was present, covered only the monetary issues,” the President today said, commenting on the news report.

According to the PMD, the President has personally urged Governor Cabraal not to be discouraged by these mischievous and fake stories, and to continue his all-important work for the stability and growth of the country.

The President’s Office has urged the local newspaper to rectify the erroneous news and to refrain from publishing such fabricated, baseless reports in the future. (NewsWire)