[:en]Presidential Commission questions former PM on FCID
Fri, Oct 16, 2020, 11:53 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 16, Colombo: Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe acknowledged that the gazette notification to set up a Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) would not be legal if the Inspector General of Police does not have the power to establish a new police division under the Police Ordinance.
The former Premier was testifying before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Political Victimization today in response to a complaint lodged by the former Additional Director of the Divi Neguma Department and current Director General of Samurdhi Bandula Thilakasiri.
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry has issued notices in response to the complaint to 21 respondents including the former Prime Minister and Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.
Testifying before the Commission, the former Prime Minister stated that the document containing the composition and activities of the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat was prepared by Mr. JC Weliamuna, PC, who was a member of the Anti-Corruption Committee.
Referring to the Cabinet paper on the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat, the lawyer for the complainant said that only the Secretary to the Ministry had been instructed by the Cabinet paper to set up a police unit. However, the gazette notification pertaining to the establishment of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division was issued by the IGP and not by the Secretary to the Ministry, he pointed out.
Responding to this the former Prime Minister stated that the IGP has that power.
The plaintiff’s lawyer quoting Article 55 of the Police Ordinance reiterated to the former Prime Minister that the IGP was not empowered to set up another unit under the relevant section.
The Chairman of the commission, former Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne said that the IGP had acted under a power not found in the Act.
Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe replied, “They say the IGP can set up police divisions, but our cabinet paper does not mention the establishment of divisions, it only mentions the establishment of a secretariat on corruption.”
The presiding judge of the commission emphasized that the IGP had set up a unit under a power he did not have.
“I do not know. I remember they reported that the secretary did not have the power to do this, only the IGP had the power to do this,” the former prime minister said.
The presiding Judge again stated that the IGP did not have the power to establish a police station under the Police Ordinance.
The complainant’s Attorney pointed out that the Financial Crimes Investigation Division was established under Section 55 of the Police Ordinance but the Article 55 does not give such a power.
The lawyers representing the Leader of the Opposition informed the Commission that the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa had not been summoned as a respondent and that he had come to know about it through media reports. They stated that their client had not received a summons to appear before the Commission today.
Mr. Sajith Premadasa informed the Commission that copies of documents pertaining to Mr. Bandula Thilakasiri’s complaint were required.
The hearing is scheduled to be called again on the 20th.
Meanwhile, Ranil Wickremesinghe also testified today regarding a complaint lodged by former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga to the Presidential Commission.
Udayanga Weeratunga has complained to the Commission that the Financial Crimes Division had filed a case against him in the Fort Magistrate’s Court in connection with the purchase of MiG fighter jets from Ukraine in 2006 with the intention of seeking political revenge.
The lawyer who appeared for Weeratunga questioned Ranil Wickremesinghe regarding the revocation of his client’s passport in connection with the case.
Mr. Wickremesinghe stated that although discussions had been held with the Cabinet and the police at that time, he had never pressured to revoke Udayanga Weeratunga’s passport.
He pointed out that it was normal for a passport to be revoked if a person did not report to court. Mr. Wickremasinghe further stated that he has learned that the passport of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen has also been revoked.
Presidential Commission questions former PM on FCID[:ru]Комиссия при президенте допросила бывшего премьер-министра о FCID
Пт, 16 октября 2020 г., 23:53 по тихоокеанскому времени, служба новостей ColomboPage, Шри-Ланка.
16 октября, Коломбо: Бывший премьер-министр Ранил Викремесингхе признал, что уведомление в бюллетене о создании полицейского отдела по расследованию финансовых преступлений (FCID) не будет законным, если генеральный инспектор полиции не будет иметь полномочий создать новое полицейское подразделение в соответствии с Постановление о полиции.
Бывший премьер давал показания перед президентской комиссией по расследованию политической виктимизации сегодня в ответ на жалобу, поданную бывшим дополнительным директором департамента Диви Негума и нынешним генеральным директором Самурди Бандула Тилакасири.
Президентская комиссия по расследованию направила уведомления в ответ на жалобу 21 респонденту, включая бывшего премьер-министра и лидера оппозиции Саджита Премадаса.
Давая показания перед Комиссией, бывший премьер-министр заявил, что документ, содержащий состав и деятельность Секретариата Антикоррупционного комитета, был подготовлен г-ном Дж. К. Велиамуна, ПК, который был членом Антикоррупционного комитета.
Ссылаясь на документ кабинета министров о создании секретариата антикоррупционного комитета, юрист заявителя сказал, что только секретарь министерства получил указание в документе кабинета министров создать полицейское подразделение. Однако, как он отметил, уведомление в официальном бюллетене, касающееся создания отдела по расследованию финансовых преступлений, было выпущено IGP, а не секретарем министерства.
В ответ на это бывший премьер-министр заявил, что такое полномочие принадлежит IGP.
Адвокат истца, цитируя статью 55 Постановления о полиции, повторил бывшему премьер-министру, что IGP не имеет права создавать другое подразделение согласно соответствующему разделу.
Председатель комиссии, бывший судья Верховного суда Упали Абейратне сказал, что IGP действовала на основании полномочий, отсутствующих в законе.
Бывший премьер-министр Ранил Викремесингхе ответил: «Они говорят, что IGP может создавать подразделения полиции, но в нашем правительственном документе не упоминается создание подразделений, а только упоминается создание секретариата по борьбе с коррупцией».
Председательствующий в комиссии подчеркнул, что IGP создала подразделение, которого он не имел.
«Я не знаю. Я помню, что они сообщили, что у секретаря не было полномочий для этого, только IGP имело полномочия сделать это», – сказал бывший премьер-министр.
Председательствующий судья снова заявил, что IGP не имеет полномочий создавать полицейский участок в соответствии с Постановлением о полиции.
Адвокат заявителя указал, что Отдел по расследованию финансовых преступлений был создан в соответствии с разделом 55 Постановления о полиции, но статья 55 не дает таких полномочий.
Адвокаты, представляющие лидера оппозиции, сообщили Комиссии, что лидер оппозиции Саджит Премадаса не был вызван в качестве ответчика и что он узнал об этом из сообщений СМИ. Они заявили, что их клиент сегодня не получил повестки в Комиссию.
Г-н Саджит Премадаса сообщил Комиссии, что требуются копии документов, относящихся к жалобе г-на Бандулы Тилакасири.
Повторное слушание назначено на 20 числа.
Между тем, Ранил Викремесингхе также дал сегодня показания по жалобе, поданной бывшим послом Шри-Ланки в России Удаянга Виратунга в Комиссию при президенте.
Удаянга Виратунга подал жалобу в Комиссию на то, что Управление по финансовым преступлениям возбудило против него дело в Магистратском суде Форта в связи с покупкой истребителей МиГ в Украине в 2006 году с целью политической мести.
Адвокат, который выступал для Weeratunga, допросил Ранила Викремесингхе относительно аннулирования паспорта его клиента в связи с этим делом.
Г-н Викремесингхе заявил, что, хотя в то время велись обсуждения с кабинетом министров и полицией, он никогда не оказывал давления с целью изъятия паспорта Удаянги Виратунги.
Он указал, что аннулирование паспорта является нормальным явлением, если человек не явился в суд. Г-н Викремасингхе также заявил, что ему стало известно об аннулировании паспорта бывшего министра Ришада Батиудина.
Presidential Commission questions former PM on FCID[:SI]Presidential Commission questions former PM on FCID
Fri, Oct 16, 2020, 11:53 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 16, Colombo: Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe acknowledged that the gazette notification to set up a Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) would not be legal if the Inspector General of Police does not have the power to establish a new police division under the Police Ordinance.
The former Premier was testifying before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Political Victimization today in response to a complaint lodged by the former Additional Director of the Divi Neguma Department and current Director General of Samurdhi Bandula Thilakasiri.
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry has issued notices in response to the complaint to 21 respondents including the former Prime Minister and Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.
Testifying before the Commission, the former Prime Minister stated that the document containing the composition and activities of the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat was prepared by Mr. JC Weliamuna, PC, who was a member of the Anti-Corruption Committee.
Referring to the Cabinet paper on the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat, the lawyer for the complainant said that only the Secretary to the Ministry had been instructed by the Cabinet paper to set up a police unit. However, the gazette notification pertaining to the establishment of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division was issued by the IGP and not by the Secretary to the Ministry, he pointed out.
Responding to this the former Prime Minister stated that the IGP has that power.
The plaintiff’s lawyer quoting Article 55 of the Police Ordinance reiterated to the former Prime Minister that the IGP was not empowered to set up another unit under the relevant section.
The Chairman of the commission, former Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne said that the IGP had acted under a power not found in the Act.
Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe replied, “They say the IGP can set up police divisions, but our cabinet paper does not mention the establishment of divisions, it only mentions the establishment of a secretariat on corruption.”
The presiding judge of the commission emphasized that the IGP had set up a unit under a power he did not have.
“I do not know. I remember they reported that the secretary did not have the power to do this, only the IGP had the power to do this,” the former prime minister said.
The presiding Judge again stated that the IGP did not have the power to establish a police station under the Police Ordinance.
The complainant’s Attorney pointed out that the Financial Crimes Investigation Division was established under Section 55 of the Police Ordinance but the Article 55 does not give such a power.
The lawyers representing the Leader of the Opposition informed the Commission that the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa had not been summoned as a respondent and that he had come to know about it through media reports. They stated that their client had not received a summons to appear before the Commission today.
Mr. Sajith Premadasa informed the Commission that copies of documents pertaining to Mr. Bandula Thilakasiri’s complaint were req
