Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Ajith Nivard Cabraal has been ordered to recompensate the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Rs. 1,843,267,595.65, an amount equivalent to almost US$ 6 million, during proceedings before Colombo High Court Judge Mohamed Mihail.
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) filed indictments against Cabraal and four others in 2024 over losses exceeding Rs. 1.84 billion to the Government of Sri Lanka incurred through the 2012 purchases of Greek Treasury Bills.
The allegations centered on the claim that, despite Greece being in a severe economic crisis, the former Central Bank officials knowingly purchased government issued treasury bills, causing the Sri Lankan government to incur massive financial losses.
CIABOC withdrew the indictment against Cabraal subject to conditions, which according to Sri Lankan state officials mean the full amount is to be paid. Sri Lanka's Minister of Health and Mass Media Nalinda Jayatissa urged journalists at a press conference not to "panic", when it was announced that the charges were being dropped. "The case was withdrawn under the condition that Rs. 1843 million is paid within three months,” he said.
Charges against Deputy Governor Dharmasena Dheerasinghe and Assistant Governors Don Wasantha Ananda Silva and Harankaha Arachchilage Karunaratne, meanwhile, unconditionally withdrawn.