[Ajit Nivard Cabraal and P.B.Jayasundara]
Speculation was rife on Friday (morning) that Central Bank Governor Ajit Nivard Cabraal had stepped down following the defeat of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Thursday’s presidential poll.
As main opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena prepared to be sworn in later on Friday evening by a Supreme Court judge as the new President, officials at the Central Bank said the Governor hadn’t come into to office. “Resign … we are not sure. On the other hand, whom can he submit his resignation since the President or a new cabinet is yet to be appointed?” one official said at around 12 noon.
Meanwhile Finance Ministry and Treasury Secretary P. B. Jayasundera is said to have gone to Singapore on Thursday. Both Jayasundera and Cabraal were the most influential officials in Rajapaksa’s government.
Sirisena’s advisors and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe’s also were putting together a list of nominees who would take over key positions in government and semi government institutions and regulatory units like the Securities and Exchange Commission.