• Cites reports by public of unauthorised fund transfers in state bank accounts
• Charges that CBSL and other authorities are dragging their feet on the issue

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has failed to control and regulate the financial market of the country,  Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) breakaway Independent Parliamentarian (MP) Gamini Waleboda charged yesterday (28).

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (28) to query a statement made by him at the Parliament last week, MP Waleboda said that thousands of Sri Lankans have now become victims of various financial crimes taking place in the technological space due to the lack of intervention by the relevant authorities.

The MP exposed in Parliament last week that there is a large-scale scam going on in which money is moved from current and savings accounts to multiple other accounts without the account holder’s knowledge. He noted that people have reported that money from their current and savings accounts has been transferred to several other accounts in a single day without notifying the account holder.

He told The Daily Morning that  several religious leaders had personally informed him about the particular scam and also said that most of the transactions had reportedly been carried out through bank accounts in state-sector banks. Citing that the respective banks are currently denying their responsibility over the matter, he said that this matter cannot be taken lightly since the particular scam took place without any notification from the banks.

He further stated that similar scams related to the financial sector, such as those carried out by microfinance institutions, have caused many difficulties to the public, including the indigenous community of the country. Blaming the CBSL and other authorities for their lack of urgency to address the matter, MP Waleboda said that the capital market of the country is now operating beyond the control of those authorities.

Moreover, he noted that he has taken measures to inform the Parliament, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation, National Policies, and Telecommunications Regulatory Commission regarding the matter; therefore, it is their responsibility to look into the matter as soon as possible.

Attempts to contact the Central Bank and both state ministers of finance regarding the allegations failed.