Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe should accept the responsibility for appointing Arjuna Mahendran as the Governor of the Central Bank, former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

Mahendran, a prime suspect in the bond case, is currently hiding overseas and has changed his name as Arjan Alexander.

Addressing a gathering in Kalutara, Ranawaka said he, along with Rajitha Senaratne, opposed the appointment of Mahendran as the Central Bank Governor.

"Ranil Wickremesinghe cannot secure power on his own. He always piggybacks on someone else. He also does not know how to retain power. Wickremesinghe never fails to drop the ball and let his entire party down," Ranawaka said.

The former Minister also added that the former Prime Minister's decision to protect Mahendran led to the downfall of the 'Yahapalanaya' government.