National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa yesterday claimed that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe stopped President Maithripala Sirisena from appointing a new Central Bank Governor on June 29.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Weerawansa pointed out that Sirisena had promised to appoint a new Governor within hours during a meeting on the same morning.

Accordingly, he arrived at the Central Bank within hours with the intention of carrying out his promise, Weerawansa said, claiming that the President even had the Letter of Appointment with him. However, Wickremesinghe and the then Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran stopped him from carrying out his promise, Weerawansa claimed.

Instead, the President had a cup of tea, made a speech, and left, Weerawansa said.

The term of Arjuna Mahendran ended yesterday and he was not granted a service extension. Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe once again publicly defended Mahendran yesterday, saying that he has not been proven guilty of any wrongdoing. Mahendran is accused of insider dealing on issuing of Central Bank bonds.

The Central Bank has no Governor as of now.