PM's Additional Secretary's arrest stalled

MONDAY, 30 MAY 2016

It is reported that the exercise by the FCID to arrest Mrs. Hema Premawardene, an Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, last Thursday had to be abandoned due to interference by a political stalwart state reports.

She held a responsible position in the tourist development process implemented under  former Minister Basil Rajapaksa's Ministry of Economic Development during the previous regime and was accused of misappropriating a sum of more than Rs.7 million.

The initial investigations regarding this crime was carried out by Anti Corruption Committee Secretariat and handed over to FCID to continue investigations. It is said that the investigations were completed and the file was sent to Attorney General's Department and Attorney General has approved her  arrest.

Meanwhile, Attorney General has given permission to arrest 6 officials in Tourism Development Authority including its Chairman. However, these arrests too have been stopped due to the political interference mentioned above.

The Anti Corruption Committee Secretariat has referred 182 files received by it on large scale financial frauds and corruption to FCID of which 42 files have been referred to the Attorney General by the FCID say reports.