A decade after Sri Lanka’s biggest financial scandal, the man at the center of the Central Bank bond scam is back in public view, raising fresh questions about justice, accountability, and political will.
Nearly ten years have passed since the Central Bank bond scam shocked Sri Lanka, and more than a year has elapsed since the Malima government came to power promising decisive action. One of its strongest pledges was that former Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran, widely regarded as the central figure in the scandal, would be forcibly brought back to Sri Lanka. Yet, despite the passage of time, no such action has taken place, nor is there any visible sign that it will.
As months turned into years, public memory of both Arjun Mahendran and the bond scam appeared to fade. That silence was abruptly broken when London based journalist Uvindu Kurukulasuriya shared a video call conversation with Mahendran on his Facebook page, with Mahendran’s consent. According to Uvindu, the former governor used the call to convey a message intended for the President. For many observers, this marked a striking moment. Mahendran, who had avoided public exposure even during the presidency of Ranil Wickremesinghe, appeared openly for the first time during the administration of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, seemingly without fear.
The attention intensified further last week when Mahendran publicly shared, for the first time, a photograph of himself with his wife, extending New Year greetings. Once again, the image surfaced through Uvindu’s social media. The symbolism was not lost on the public. A man once accused of masterminding a massive financial crime was now visible, relaxed, and unguarded, even as a government that vowed to bring him back by force remains in office.
This has inevitably fueled speculation. Is Arjun Mahendran confident because he no longer fears arrest, or does his renewed visibility suggest a deeper, more troubling understanding behind the scenes? As events continue to unfold, many believe the true meaning behind his sudden public reappearance will eventually be revealed.
