Namal Filed Cases Against FCID Fixed to July
Colombo Additional District Judge, Chamath Madanayake yesterday (2) overruled objections brought by the Attorney General and fixed the two cases, filed by Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, against the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID), for trial on 12th July 2017. Namal Rajapaksa has sued the Officer-in-Charge of the FCID, R.A.K. Premaratne, and FCID Sub-Inspector Vithanage Shanthalal, claiming Rs 100 million from each, in damages for defamation of his character.
The reason given by Namal Rajapaksa, for his damages claim, was his wrongful arrest on 11 July 2016 and being remanded for 8 days, till 18 July, through a Court order obtained after the respondents submitted a ‘B’ report with baseless facts.
The Attorney General, filing objections, stated that the FCID was a specified institution formed by the Inspector General of Police, on the directions of the Prime Minister, to investigate financial crimes, on a Government decision taken by Cabinet of Ministers and therefore, the Court cannot proceed with the two cases filed by MP Namal Rajapaksa claiming damages from the officers of FCID for defamation.
However, Judge Madanayake overruled the Attorney General’s objections and stated that any individual can file cases against the Financial Crime Investigation Division and claim damages for defamation. The Court then fixed the two cases for trial on 12 July.
