State Minister of Finance, Shehan Semasinghe, defended the appointment of Arjuna Mahendran as the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) in 2015, stating that it was 'legal and constitutional'. 

Semasinghe made this statement in response to an oral question raised by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Chaminda Wijesekera during a session in Parliament, today 8 June. 

Semasinghe pointed out that there are multiple court cases still pending regarding the bond scam.

In response to Semasinghe's statement, Wijesiri expressed his doubts, referring to the prevailing belief at the time that Mahendran was appointed by the incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena in 2015.