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When JVP MP Anura Dissanayake told Parliament this week, the new Government which rode to power with pledges to rid the country of bribery and corruption, is travelling down the same road the previous regime had taken, he was airing the growing frustration among Opposition members, brought on by the Government’s refusal to allow a debate on the Treasury Bond issue, which has led to calls for the dismissal of Central Bank the Governor Arjun Mahendran.

Mr Dissanayake’s pointed criticism of the Government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe came during a two-hour adjournment debate, and was the strongest since the new Government took office in January. The JVP has, until this week, avoided direct criticism of the Government, but on Thursday, the JVP leader cast serious doubts about the Government’s commitment to punish those who defraud public money. “In this short period of time, this Government has shown that it is travelling even faster down the same road the previous regime took. You only have a mandate for 100 days. If within such a short span, you act in this manner with an election looming, will it not get worse if this government is installed for a longer term,” he asked.

This week’s Parliament sittings were dominated by calls for a proper inquiry into the Bond issue, as well as the removal of the Governor. On Tuesday, UPFA members who have handed over a motion calling for the dismissal of Mr Mahendran, demanded that it be taken up immediately for debate, but the Government objected to such a debate, saying that the conduct of public officials should not be the subject of discussion in the House. The disagreement over the issue led to the early adjournment of sittings for the day. The same day, the report of the 3-member Committee appointed by the Government to inquire into the Treasury Bond issue was tabled in Parliament, which said, “a full scale investigation by a proper government authority was warranted”.

Initially, the Speaker ruled that the matter should be referred to the Consultative Committee, a Parliamentary Select Committee or to the Committee on Public Enterprise (COPE) and that, a Parliamentary debate held once the Committee submits its report. “Public officials are unable to defend themselves when they are subject to discussion in the House. They can be summoned before a committee and hence, they too are afforded an opportunity to defend themselves,” the Speaker said.

However, on Tuesday, Opposition legislators demanded they be allowed to debate the report of the 3-member Committee. Hence, the Speaker allowed a two-hour adjournment debate, despite Government objections even for a limited discussion on the issue. UPFA MP Prof G.L. Peiris who opened the debate said that Mr Mahendran is a citizen of Singapore, who had pledged allegiance to that country, and that, he had no interest in safeguarding the interests of Sri Lanka. “This is one of the biggest frauds in the history of the country, but this Government is silent on it,” he alleged.

Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala De Silva who seconded the motion, accused the Prime Minister of trying to shield his bosom buddy Arjun Mahendran at the cost of the country. “The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) will not be able to probe a scam of this magnitude. A new unit will have to be set up to probe this scam,” he said.He also questioned the credibility of the 3-member Committee that probed the Treasury Bond issue.

Another Opposition legislator Bandula Gunawardena urged President Maithripala Sirisena to dismiss the Central Bank Governor. “The President has a responsibility towards the people of this country. He must sack the Governor immediately, and not be intimated by some Government members,” he said.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayaka who spoke in defense of the Government, chose to remind UPFA legislators of the lack of transparency and alleged frauds committed during their time in power. “You talk like babies in the House. You say the Governor is a Singapore national. Former Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, Udayanga Weeratunga who served as Ambassador in Russia and Palitha Kohona who represented Sri Lanka at the UN in New York, are all non-nationals, but you did not object to these appointments,” he said.

The debate, even though limited to two hours, allowed Opposition legislators to cast serious doubts on the bona fides of a government whose rallying cry was the need to rid the country of corruption in the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration. The Central Bank Governor’s issue has shown the government in very poor light.