FCID to Be or Not to be Closed?

The FCID was formed on February 26, 2015 with the aim to investigate major financial crimes, frauds, unsolicited mega projects, major financial crimes against public property, money laundering, terrorist financing, illegal financial transaction, unlawful enrichment, and offenses on financial crimes against national security. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Parliament last week that the FCID had completed investigation into 44 cases and sent them to the Attorney General. On the advice of the Attorney General legal action has been proceeded on six of those cases so far.

The current term of the FCID is to end by June 30, and the Cabinet has not yet taken a decision over extending its period.  Law and Order Ministry Secretary Jagath P. Wijeweera said he had not received any instruction so far from the government with regard to the matter.

JVP MP Vijitha Herath said that they have doubts whether the government was planning to discontinue the FCID as the Cabinet has not yet taken a decision to extend its period. “Some within the government ranks itself prefer the FCID to be dissolved. They have raised their concerns about this Division with the President and the Prime Minister at various times. Some of the complaints before this Division involve those in the government ranks as well. Even though not openly stated we have doubts that both parties in the government are willing to discontinue it,” he said.

JVP Sunil Handuneti said,that in order to hide frauds and financial irregularities done by higher ups in the previous regime, there is a plan to close down FCID as from 30th June 2016. Idea behind this is to avoid exposure of   certain corrupted politicians.

In reply Mano Ganesan said, that there is no truth in it because this matter was not discussed either in the cabinet or Parliamentary committee meetings etc. Hence, there is no possibility to dissolve FCID. If they do it we will protest against it  said,Mano Ganesan.

Two conflicting views have been expressed by the Government and some Opposition parties regarding the future of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division with the former saying that the term of the FCID will be extended and the latter predicting a shut down at the end of the Unit’s current term.

The term of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) will definitely be extended for another six months and there are no plans whatsoever to discontinue it, Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Deputy Minister Karunarathna Paranavithana and Minister Ajith Perera said.

Paranavithana said, the government has taken a policy decision to continue with  the FCID.

All investigations of the FCID would continued to be  carried out without any interruption.

He said the government would not deviate from this position, despite objections by a few against this Division and its investigations.