Central Bank Governor to step down next week

COLOMBO (News 1st); Professor W. D. Lakshman, the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has announced that he will step down next week.

Professor W. D. Lakshman 15th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and made the announcement during an online program on Friday (10).

“I am retiring from the post on September 14.” he said adding that it was his intention to resign on his 80th birthday.

He said when he was studying Sri Lanka was referred to as a developing country, he realized that society and party politics do not have a system for it and there is no agreement of a strict policy.

"If you take a look at what happened over the past two weeks, you may understand the situation on inconveniences that were caused that led to my decision," he said hinted during a Q&A session.

If I decide to open up myself, I will comment on the reasons for my premature retirement, later, he said.

He did not wish to comment on a question on whether the government had forced his premature retirement.

He denied reports that would be taking up the post in the IMF as the Alternative Executive Director for Sri Lanka.

Prof. Lakshman, a prolific researcher,  has authored numerous research papers on a wide range of topics including Political economy, Economic Development of South Asia, Japanese Investments in South Asia and Socio Economic Impact of Structural Adjustment Policies in Sri Lanka.

Professor Lakshman has also served as a Member, Presidential Commission on Finance and Banking, 1990, the Senior Economic Advisor to Ministry of Finance and Planning (2008-09), Member, National Economic Council (2008-10),Chairman, Presidential Commission on Taxation (2009-10).Chairman, Institute of Policy Studies (2010-15),Vice Chancellor, Sanasa University Institute, Kegalle (2014-19) and the Chairman, Committee of Experts appointed by the President to examine the Sri Lanka - Singapore Free Trade Agreement in 2018.