People fleeing LTTE-held areas in the north after government troops advanced and brought it under their control, carried millions of rupees in cash, gold – securely wrapped in ‘pottanis’ (cloth bundles on their head), officials said.
Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, who visited the IDP camp in Vavuniya yesterday to check out banking facilities and services, said the displaced people deposited a total of Rs 390 million in the two mobile branches of the Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank, just two days after they opened.
”There must be much more now. They brought all kinds of valuables, including cash, gold, jewellery wrapped in cloth bundles and small bags as they fled,” he said, adding that ATMs have also been installed at these mobile banking units. The branches have also been authorised to receive foreign remittances and transfer money out. “Some money has also come in from abroad for inmates at the camp,” Mr Cabraal said.
On Friday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa speaking to editors said that some of the people were seen drying the money at the welfare centres as they had crossed through the lagoon with the money in their possession. Meanwhile, the Commercial Bank became the first private bank to open a branch in the camp yesterday. |
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