Government notifies that the Police Financial Crime Investigation Unit is independent, devoid of political interference:

Government notifies that the Police Financial Crime Investigation Unit is independent, devoid of political interference:

The government of Sri Lanka has emphasised in a statement has drawn attention that all activities

of the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Unit and its affiliated branches all work independently and is not at all politically motivated and there is absolutely no political intererence. This notification has been issued by the Prime Minister’s office.

The Police Financial Crimes Investigation unit and the Police crime prevention units were established at a time when the corrupt activities were rampant in the country. This was established in accordance and under the Police Ordinance Act, sub caption 55.This was established with the approval of the Cabinet, Inspector General of Police and under the complete pre scrutiny of the Inspector General of Police.

It is reported that at present there are 64 branches affiliated to the main Police Financial Crimes Investigation Unit. These branches are affiliated to investigate various types of crimes. They are Anti Terrorist Investigations, crimes reporting division, crimes investigation division, Colombo crime division, Narcotics bureau, Police child and women’s bureau, frauds investigation unit and environment protection unit.

All these were not established at the initial stage but were established from time to time when the necessity arose.

The Police Financial crime investigation was also established in the similar fashion as the necessity arose. For functioning of the Police Financial Frauds Investigation unit is also within rules of the police and no additional powers have been entrusted to the unit. This unit has absolutely no constitutional powers or any other vested powers. The establishment of this investigation unit had been purely to recruit experienced police officers and to allow them to investigate into alleged huge financial crimes by forming a efficient mechanism and to expedite investigations.

The corruption prevention unit was established via a sub cabinet committee on January 21st this year. To establish it the cabinet approval was sought. The main intention to establish this unit is to prevent any future huge financial frauds among all institutions. They give guidelines to follow to prevent such frauds taking place in future. A new secretarial office has also been established where the incidents reported are furnished via the cabinet for necessary action. This office would expedite investigations on large financial frauds committed

What need to be emphasised is that the activities of the Police Financial Crimes investigation unit is not at all under the parliament and there is political influence on the investigations made which is strictly independent.

In this contest the government gives an undertaking and draw attention that all actions of the Police Financial Crimes investigation unit and the affiliated branches work independently in enforcing law and order without any political influence.