Speaking to the media yesterday (31), Gammanpila noted that several UNP ministers and MPs too, have made public statements criticizing the bond issue.

He urged the president to immediately prohibit foreign travel of ex-CB -governor Arjun Mahendran and directors of Perpetual Treasuries, seize the company’s bank accounts and bring its illegally acquired money under the charge of the CB and suspend its license.

The attorney general, with the assistance of the police crime branch or the Bribery Commission, should file criminal charges against the PM, Mahendran and the others responsible.

Handunnetti reveals Mahendran’s admission

Meanwhile, COPE chairman Sunil Handunnetti says Mahendran has admitted before the committee that he had acted as per instructions given by Wickremesinghe in the bond issue.

Handunnetti told Hiru TV’s ‘Salakuna’ programme that it was a serious blunder by the CB’s monetary board to base their policy decision on the PM’s instructions.

However, minister Champika Ranawaka claims the prime minister had nothing to do with the bond issue.

Ranawaka told the media in Colombo that he had gone through the COPE report and found nothing that implicated the PM.

He challenged opponents to bring in a no-confidence motion against the PM if possible.