A group of depositors have filed a complaint with the Galenbindunuwewa Police that the owner running a financial institution in a building located in the town of Galenbindunuwewa has defrauded over Rs.2000 million
by accepting public deposits promising high rates of interest.
A senior officer of the Galenbindunuwewa Police stated yesterday (12) that a group of about a 100 depositors have submitted a complaint in this regard as a single complaint and according to that complaint, an amount of 2,000 million rupees have been defrauded by this financial institution.
Police said that this financial institution, which is not registered with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, has been operated by a resident of Galenbindunawewa. The officer also said that deposits have been accepted stating that 5 percent interest will be given monthly.
The officer stated that this financial institution has been maintained in a building in the city for about four years and many persons have deposited money there because it pays more interest. He said that depositors have received monthly interest instead of the money they had deposited.
The officer said that since this was a private transaction, the plaintiffs were advised to file a civil case against the owner of the financial institution and proceed through Court to obtain their deposited money. The officer also said that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has commenced an investigation regarding this financial institution as it is not possible to accept deposits without the proper permission of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. He mentioned further that the Police are providing all possible assistance in relation to the investigation.
More than 150 persons who had deposited money in this financial institution had gathered together and engaged in a demonstration in the city of Galenbindunuwewa day before yesterday (11). They said there that they have not received either their money or interest for their deposits for nine months. They have been agitating and drawing the attention of the authorities asking them to take necessary steps to return their deposits. These protestors had also engaged in a march carrying protest placards.
Gayan Kumara Weerasinghe