Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy

Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe

Highly respected economist and former Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy yesterday confirmed that he is not keen to return to the Central Bank and backed the incumbent Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe.

“I have absolutely no intention of returning to the CBSL. In my view, the present Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe is doing an extremely good job in dire circumstances,” Dr. Coomaraswamy told the Daily FT.

He was responding to rumours that the interim Government-led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is planning to request Dr. Coomaraswamy to come back and take over as CBSL Governor.

The rumour arose on speculation that incumbent Dr. Weerasinghe was planning to step down in the absence of a full time Finance Minister.

Yesterday President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed Wickremesinghe as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stability and National Policies in addition to being the Prime Minister.

Earlier this month, Dr. Weerasinghe who promised to make CBSL independent and transparent, warned that if there is no political stability, he will be forced to resign. However, President Rajapaksa established an interim Government with the help of UNP Leader Wickremesinghe, and other parties.

CBSL implements extraordinary measures to support banking sector