Mahendran: “In the first Cabinet Meeting at that time the Prime Minister had said specifically that these procurements should be done in a transparent manner. So I interpreted that it meant the issuance of bonds as well. Subsequently, I confirmed about this with the PM on February 24, 2015 during another cabinet subcommittee meeting on economic affairs.”
A meeting of the Monetary Board on Feb 24, 2015 discussed raising government funds through public auctions and issuing thirty year bonds
Several discussions had taken place about Private Placement versus Public Auction methods at a very high level of the government
By Shehan Chamika Silva
Explaining as to why he decided to raise funds through the Public Auction system particularly with regard to the February 27, 2015 auction, Former Governor Arjuna Mahendran today further testified before the Commission.
Arjuna Mahendran said that there was a meeting of the Monetary Board on February 24, 2015 in which raising government funds through public auctions and issuing thirty year bonds were discussed.
Mr. Mahendran said after seeing that Rs. 20 billion had been bid at the February 27, 2015 auction he was relieved, considering the urgent government fund requirement. At that point, at noon on February 27 after the auction, he had decided to raise funds from that auction and not to go for the Private Placement Method (PPM).
He said several discussions had taken place about Private Placement versus Public Auction methods at a very high level of the government, several weeks before the February 27, 2015 auction.
“I was given a very clear signal by Hon. Prime Minister that all CBSL procurement should be done in a transparent manner in ight of the new government policies”, Mahendran said.
He further said “In the first cabinet meeting at that time the Prime Minister had said specifically that these procurements should be done in a transparent manner. So I interpreted that it meant the issuance of bonds as well. Subsequently, I confirmed about this with the PM on February 24, 2015 during another cabinet subcommittee meeting on economic affairs.”
Mr. Mahendran said it was in this backdrop that he preferred raising funds solely from the February 27, 2015 public auction.
It was also explained that on March 6, 2015, Mr. Mahendran had conveyed this decision to the Monetary Board and thereafter, the CBSL had started raising money through treasury bonds only from auctions.
Concluding the evidence, Mr. Mahendran said he had not transferred any CBSL officials in view of helping Perpetual Treasuries or to help him or Arjun Aloysius.
Thereafter, Counsel Harsha Fernando who was appearing on behalf of former Deputy Governor, P. Samarasiri, questioned Mahendran on the February 27 Auction, 2015.
Mr. Fernando questioned him on the 5% penal rate cut and the departmental decision of Public Debt Department (PDD) to accept Rs.10 billion at the auction.
It was said that Mr. Mahendran was facing significant pressure to find money for the Government by the end of February 2015.
It was also explained that after the discussion with Dr. Weerasinghe at the MOC (Market Operation Committee) meeting on February 27, 2015, morning, Governor Mahendran had decided to remove the 5% penal rate considering as an urgent requirement.
After the February 27 auction finished at the noon, Mahendran had discussed with the PDD officers in the presence of two other Deputy Governors to accept Rs. 10.05 billion from the auction. Later that recommendation went to the Tender Board for approval.
Mr. Mahendran said that he was aware by the time he was discussing with PDD that there was a removal of 5% penal rate and it would affect the interest rate and it would increase at the auction.
It was revealed that when Mahendran was discussing with the PDD, Deputy Governors Ananda Silva and Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe were with him. Mrs. Seneviratne (Superintendent of PDD), Dr. Asim (add. Director of PDD) and Mrs. Muthugala (Add.director of PDD) were also part of that discussion.
It was revealed that these three PDD officers were also members of the Tender Board.
When Mahendran decided on the removal of penal rate with Dr. Weerasinghe, there were three other members who were also part of that MOC meeting. They are Mr. Karunatilleke, Mrs. Swarnakularatne and Mr. Rodrigo.
These three members were also members of the Tender Board. It was said that the Tender Board comprised of eight members. The other two was Deputy Governors Sepala Ratnayake and P. Samarasiri who were not members of PDD or MOC.
Referring to the two events -- the removal of penal rate and the PDD’s decision to accept bids up to Rs. 10 billion -- Counsel Harsha Fernando said that those two incidents would not have taken place without the Governor’s involvement.
No comments:
Post a Comment