The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. While I respect the Answer, it does not fully address the accountability question. Appearing before COPF and COPE twice does not demonstrate clear accountability. For the Governor and CBSL, it is unclear to whom they are directly responsible. Critical economic levers affecting citizens—loans for cars or houses, overseas investments, priority sector lending, even government salaries—are influenced by CBSL, yet the Governor’s own salary is approved by himself.

¶ 02 SMEs are being squeezed. Control over fiscal and monetary policy rests with an unelected person rather than the elected Minister of Finance. With a two-thirds majority, if legislation is half-baked, it should be corrected. We cannot have a repeat of 22 May-type crises. Also, if CBSL’s independence is paramount, why was the Governor in Washington involved with matters linked to US tariff negotiations? This breaches that sense of independence. I request immediate corrective action.