Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali Sabry contributing to a political programme aired on Hiru TV disclosed that the move of Sri Lanka resorting to debt default was advised to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and him as the then Minister of Finance by ‘glorified advisors’ who are Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Shantha Devarajan and new Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe. Sabry stressed that he takes the full responsibility of the decision to debt default.
His comments come in following criticism raised by a number of economic analysts, politicians and civil activists, who argued that the move would be extremely unlawful, irresponsible and even treasonous, had the decision to debt default been made without consulting the Monetary Board, the Attorney General, the Cabinet and Parliament, nor receiving any approval of the said bodies.
The parties that should be held accountable for this move are persons of foreign citizenship, the analysts argue, reminding that Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a US citizen, Dr. Coomaraswamy is a UK citizen, Devarajan a US citizen and Dr. Weerasinghe, an Australian citizen, in what they suggest as Sri Lanka being navigated into the depths of hell on the wishes of four foreign citizens.
Therefore, as to how such a treasonous move was made should be probed into and the reasonable doubt whether their conduct backed by Sabry was a behind-the-curtain operation by a foreign power shall also be looked upon, the analysts added.
MIAP
