Sri Lankan government on Monday rejected accusations that questioned the credibility of police Financial Crimes Investigations Division and Anti-Corruption Committee probing the alleged financial fraud charges against former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his close aides.

Rajapaksa loyalists and even the Sri Lanka Freedom Party had accused that FCID was being used by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for political witch hunt against opponents.

The government said neither the FCID nor the ACC were controlled by the Cabinet Sub-committee on Anti-Corruption by any means.

Furthermore, it denied any sort of undue political intervention to the enforcement of law.

The government said it assured the independence of the investigations carried out by all law enforcement agencies in the country including the FCID.

However, the progress of the investigations carried out not only by the FCID but also by the other law enforcement agencies is reviewed once a week so as to ensure effective law enforcement, a statement from Prime Minister’s Office said.

The FCID investigations have so far landed two former Rajapaksa ministers under remand custody, including his younger brother Basil who headed the powerful economic development ministry.

Several bigwigs and aides of Rajapaksa are under the scanner for alleged financial fraud since their leader was defeated by current President Maithripala Sirisena in the presidential election held in January.
(With inputs from Outlook)