Lanka opposition demands anti-graft probe against PM

Joint opposition backers of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa today demanded a probe against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe over the central bank's controversial bond issues.
Arjuna Mahendran, the chief of Central Bank of Sri Lanka appointed by Wickremesinghe, was found at fault by parliament last week.
The report said Mahendran was responsible for the thumping profits made by the Central Bank's primary dealer Perpetual Treasuries in two bond issues in February 2015 and March 2016.
The allegation was that the firm with links to Mahendran's son-in-law had benefited from his position.
The opposition legislators called for investigations against both the prime minister and Mahendran.

The former central bank chief's contract was not renewed by President Maithripala Sirisena owing to the controversy surrounding the bond issues.