Police launch new unit to probe ‘questionable assets’
COLOMBO – The Sri Lanka Police on Sunday (19) formally inaugurated the Proceeds of Crime Investigation Division (PCID), a specialized unit established under the Proceeds of Crime Act No. 05 of 2025 to trace, investigate, and recover assets obtained through unlawful means.
The division, housed at the old Police Headquarters in Colombo, was declared open under the patronage of Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala.
According to police officials, the PCID has been mandated to investigate both criminal and non-criminal acquisitions of wealth and property. The unit is empowered to initiate civil proceedings in cases where assets are determined to have been unlawfully acquired, marking a major expansion of the state’s capacity to tackle financial crimes.
The PCID will work in coordination with 34 government institutions, including the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the Attorney General’s Department, and the Financial Intelligence Unit. Officials said the division will also accept complaints from the public and has the authority to freeze or seize suspicious assets for up to 30 days pending further investigation.
The Proceeds of Crime Act, passed earlier this year, introduces several significant reforms to strengthen accountability and financial oversight. It grants the Auditor General expanded powers, allowing audit findings to be directly referred to CIABOC for action. Notably, the law applies retroactively, enabling authorities to reopen investigations into irregularities revealed in previous audit reports.
Authorities described the establishment of the PCID as a key step in strengthening Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption and asset recovery framework, which has long faced criticism for weak enforcement and political interference.
-ENCL
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