Govt. to convert FCID to a fully-fledged investigative arm

• New arm called Central Crime Investigation Bureau to be set up

By Kelum Bandara

The government has decided to revamp the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and convert it into a fully-fledged investigative arm like the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), operating under a senior DIG (Deputy Inspector General of Police), Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said.

Currently, the CID operates under a DIG, and the FCID is only a small unit under it. The Minister said both the CID and the FCID would be placed under a senior DIG under the plan for restructuring of the police service.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a special meeting with the relevant authorities yesterday to discuss structural changes in the police service to streamline its operations.

In its latest bid to curb crimes, the Minister said the government decided to establish a special body called ‘Central Crime Investigation Bureau’ to oversee all the criminal investigative units across the country, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said.

The FCID played a role, particularly during the time of the Yahapalana government, in investigating financial crimes.

According to the Minister, special criminal investigative divisions such as the Colombo Crime Division will be established covering each province in the country, and it will facilitate the clearance of a backlog of 29,000 complaints pending with the CID (Criminal Investigation Department).

“Once a central unit is set up, even complaints disregarded in outstations can be investigated in an expeditious manner,” he said.