Mahendran is to join the tour as the Director General of International Investment - which is a new post that will be introduced by the PM.

However, he is to be appointed to the post only after the COPE report on the Bond Issue is released next week.

The PM is of the view that Mahendran would be exonerated by the COPE committee.

However, the COPE committee remains divided over the issue. However, according to Parliament sources, the majority of the committee members will exonerate Mahendran.

President's decision will be proven correct

However, the State minister of Technology and Research - Lakshman Seneviratne has said that the Audit General had tabled a report on the Bond Issue to the COPE committee and nobody could challenge it.

He has added that the COPE Committee had investigated earlier complaints on all ministries based on the report of the AG, who audits state institutions.

Noting that the probe against Mahendran is at its final stage, Seneviratne has added that the President's decision to appoint a new governor for Central Bank instead of extending Mahendran's tenure, would be soon proven correct.