The Sri Lanka Police officially inaugurated the Proceeds of Crime Investigation Division (PCID) today (20), established under the Proceeds of Crime Act No. 05 of 2025 to investigate assets and funds acquired through illegal or unexplained means.
The new division, located at the old Police Headquarters building, was opened under the patronage of Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala.
According to police officials, the PCID is empowered to investigate both criminal and non-criminal acquisitions of assets, coordinate with 34 state institutions, and initiate civil cases where properties are found to be unlawfully obtained.
The division will also accept complaints from the public and has the authority to temporarily freeze or seize suspicious assets for a period of up to 30 days.
Legal experts highlighted that the new law grants the Auditor General expanded oversight powers, allowing audit findings to be submitted directly to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). Significantly, the Act also applies retroactively, permitting investigations based on past audit reports.
