Golden Key depositors receive second instalment

by Shirajiv SIRIMANE

The Central Bank has paid over Rs. 25 million to 2,505 Ceylinco Golden Key depositors on Friday. This is the second instalment paid to Ceylinco depositors by the Government.Over 2,600 Golden Key depositors having amounts less than One million rupees were paid Rs. 100,000 each last month as their first instalment.The Central Bank together with the Golden Key Depositors Trust Fund is auditing the accounts of customers who have deposits over Rs. 2.5 million. They too would be paid their first instalment this month.

The Ceylinco Golden Key Depositors Committee last week also met President Mahinda Rajapaksa who instructed the Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunga, Treasury Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundera, Governor, Central Bank, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Attorney General Mohan Pieris, Additional Secretary to the President, Gamini Senarath and top police officials at the meeting to take speedy steps to resolve the matter.

Subsequent to the meeting the Criminal Investigation Department sent a red alert to the Interpol in 188 countries to apprehend Mrs. Sicille Kotalawela who had been absconding since the issue came to light over six months ago.

Vice President of the Golden Key Depositors Association, Ms. Dushanthi Hapugoda said that their common goal was to obtain their deposits back. "Some depositors are trying to take undue political mileage by issuing irresponsible statements trying to create a rift in the Association and jeopardise the common cause."

"It has never been our aim to ask for a bailout using public monies and what we need is Government mediation to sell Ceylinco assets and settle the depositors," she said.

"We only ask for what is rightfully ours, the return of our investments that we feel can be paid back from the assets of Ceylinco Consolidated and its directors." she said.