The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court was today informed that the complainant party is expecting to file an amended plaint against former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal regarding the private plaint filed over alleged financial irregularities that took place while he was serving as the Central Bank Governor in 2014.
However, President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for the former Central Bank Governor, informed the court that he was expecting to raise objections against the plant.
Cabraal was present before the court in connection with a private plaint filed by Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha Thera in terms of section 136(1)(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act. The court had earlier issued an order preventing Cabraal from leaving the country regarding this incident.
The petitioner alleged that the Sri Lankan government, when Ajith Nivard Cabral was functioning as the Central Bank Governor in 2014, had paid US$ 6.5 million through the Central Bank to an American businessman named Imaad Shah Zuberi, who was a CIA mole, to buy influence and fix its image in the US. The petitioner further said the US Court has held that out of the said money given to him on behalf of Sri Lankan taxpayers, US$ 5.6 million, or 80% of it, has been spent on himself and his wife. The petitioner said former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabral had paid the sum of US$ 6.5 million without prior approval from the parliament and Cabinet of Ministers, in violation of Article 150 of the constitution.
Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage fixed the matter for November 15.
