Former banker Ranjit Fernando resigns as UDA chairman
View(s):Former banker Ranjit Fernando, a close associate of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has resigned from the post of chairman of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) with the reasons for the resignation unknown, official sources said on Wednesday. Dr. Jagath Munasinghe assumed duties as acting chairman last week, a senior official of the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development revealed. Mr. Fernando is currently overseas and is expected to return to Colombo shortly, the official said.
Close associates said Mr. Fernando still continues his engagement with government agencies while other sources said that he is believed to have quit due to ‘pressure’ on tenders. Mr. Fernando is a veteran banker and a former Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Constitutional Affairs.
He is tipped to receive a top post at the Agency for Development which is to be established to handle Foreign Direct Investments, official sources revealed. Dr. Indrajith Coomaswaramy had been designated to head this agency before he was appointed as Central Bank Governor.