Finance Minister and CB chief justify staff reshuffle

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran yesterday justified the reshuffle of Central Bank staff.

“Discipline needs to be brought in and I think that was the first step,” the Finance Minister told the media yesterday.

He went on to say that more needed to be done at the Central Bank. 

“No tail will back the head in future,” Karunanayake added.

Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran told the Daily FT that the reshuffle of department staff was a normal routine that the bank practiced in the medium term. 

“The bank has done it many times in the past as well. I don’t understand why people are making it a big issue,” he added.

However, Daily FT learns that over 100 officials have been shuffled within departments. 

The issue of transfers has caused a stir within the bank, where the Governor has had to take control of the conference room booking system as well.

Responding to this, Mahendran told the media last week that since the conference room’s IT system facilities had not been updated, he took over the control of it. He ensured that it would be returned to regular administration once the system was updated.