The personal fortune of Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, has come under intense public scrutiny following a full declaration of his assets and liabilities to the Commission to Investigate Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), as required by the Anti-Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023. The legislation mandates that the President, Members of Parliament, ambassadors, high-ranking officials, and the Central Bank Governor reveal their financial holdings, ensuring transparency at the highest levels of government.
The disclosure reveals that Dr. Weerasinghe and his family control substantial immovable assets, including a 42-perch plot of land valued at Rs. 55 million, received as a gift, and a 78-square-metre commercial building worth Rs. 29.3 million, also gifted. The family has constructed a 2,500-square-foot residential property valued at Rs. 3.17 million and acquired apartments measuring 1,117 and 1,200 square feet, valued at Rs. 25.79 million and Rs. 19 million respectively. Additional land holdings, purchased over time, range from Rs. 200,000 to Rs. 12 million, reflecting both modest investments and high-value gifts.
Dr. Weerasinghe’s movable assets are equally notable. Gold ornaments, some inherited and others purchased, total over Rs. 6.5 million, while the family owns a 2018 Mercedes valued at Rs. 10 million and an older vehicle from 2003 worth Rs. 650,000. His portfolio of financial securities is extensive, including treasury bonds valued between Rs. 4.72 million and Rs. 19.4 million, shareholdings worth Rs. 606,451 and US$ 580,908, and fixed deposits of Rs. 3.4 million.
The declaration also details income for the past year, including pensions of Rs. 11,088,279.95, salary of Rs. 5,434,512, interest earnings exceeding Rs. 5 million, and rental income of Rs. 2,280,000. Foreign currency holdings include USD 110 and AUD 16,730 in bank accounts, alongside Rs. 685,884 in local currency accounts.
In total, Dr. Weerasinghe and his family declare assets amounting to Rs. 245,979,337, US$ 581,018 and AUD 16,730. The disclosure comes amid rising public concern over transparency and accountability within Sri Lanka’s key institutions. Analysts note that while the Anti-Corruption Act frames such declarations as a legal obligation, the sheer scale of the Governor’s wealth is likely to fuel debate and calls for closer scrutiny of public officials’ finances.
CIABOC has reiterated that these declarations are more than a procedural formality, signalling a firm government commitment to combating corruption. Whether this wealth revelation will trigger further investigations or heighten public scrutiny of Sri Lanka’s financial governance remains to be seen, but it has unquestionably placed the Central Bank Governor’s assets under a spotlight.
