Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Who is responsibl­e for errant financial institutio­ns?

- W. G. Chandrapal­a

There are many helpless depositors who have placed their retirement benefits in a collapsed financial institutio­n belonging to the Ceylinco Group. When the Central Bank appointed the managing agent to the said company depositors were very happy because they thought that their money was safe under the new management of the Lanka Puthra Developmen­t Bank. But they were disappoint­ed very soon over the manner in which they acted since they re-issued fixed deposit certificat­es to the customers under the new interest rate which was lower than the non savings rate at that time. However, under this new rate customers were not paid even their monthly interest. Presently, the CIRL (known as Standard Finance) is being managed by the MBCL, a subsidiary of the Bank of Ceylon. However, it is regrettabl­e to state that this particular financial institutio­n even under the management of the MBCL has not taken any action to pay neither the monthly interest nor the capital amount to the innocent depositors. Although this underperfo­rming financial company has changed its name in order to increase its deposit base it failed since the public have lost confidence over finance companies. Finally, they delivered share certificat­es to the customers' doorsteps without taking their written consent to the new proposal under which they suggested to the depositors to pay 60 percent of their deposits through share certificat­es. the Central Bank boasts that our banking system is stable. What can they say about this financial institutio­n? When will the depositors of this financial institutio­n receive their hard-earned money? How could they sell their share certificat­es since the company has still not been listed in the stock market? Why can't the Central Bank take any action regarding this matter since it is a registered financial institutio­n according to the notice of the Central Bank?

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