The row over the role of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) intensified on Monday with brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa challenging the existence of the FCID in the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister’s Office clarifying the division’s “independent character”.
Ever since the FCID carried out the high profile arrest of Basil Rajapaksa, former Sri Lankan Minister of Economic Development, three weeks ago, the focus has turned on the three-month-old unit.
Much-hyped meetingWhen the much-hyped meeting between President Maithripala Sirisena and his predecessor in Parliament took place last week, there were reports that the former turned down the request of Mr. Rajpaksa to disband the FCID. The former Defence Secretary, who received summons from the Division in connection with transactions relating to MiG deal and Lanka Hospitals, questioned the legality of its actions through a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court, said his lawyer, Sagara Kariyawasam.
On Tuesday, the FCID recorded a statement from the Chairman of Avant-Garde Security Services, Major (Retd.) Nissanka Senadhipathi, regarding his action of depositing funds into a bank account considered fictitious.
