The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, stressed that the public must exercise responsibility and caution when obtaining disaster relief funds and government-provided bank loans.
Addressing a programme held in Kandy today (20), he said it is the duty of recipients to properly manage the relief and loans they receive, noting that the government has allocated a significant amount of funds to support those affected by the disaster.
Dr. Weerasinghe emphasized that citizens should obtain only the amount of relief genuinely required, adding that prudent management would enable the government to extend assistance to other parties in need.
He further highlighted that financial assistance must be utilized responsibly, warning against the misuse of concessional loans. Referring to the recent economic crisis, the Governor recalled that when the tourism sector collapsed, concessional loan schemes were introduced, but some businesses—both affected and unaffected—borrowed amounts beyond their actual needs and later struggled to repay them.
The CBSL Governor cautioned that such practices could lead to financial distress, stressing that taking only the necessary amount would help avoid a credit crisis. He concluded by underscoring that it is the collective responsibility of all recipients to obtain and utilize government-provided relief and loans wisely to restore livelihoods and businesses through proper financial management.
