Top guns to face presidential commission fire this week

• More VIPs and top Government officials summoned before PRECIFAC

By Shanika Sriyananda  

A VVIP and a few other top officials will be questioned by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) this week.

The Daily FT learns that the VVIP will be questioned by a team of police investigators attached to PRECIFAC.

“Some people think that the commission only questions low-profile officials but by questioning the VVIP and the other former ministers and top officials, it shows the commission is not influenced by anything but we are questioning all despite their power or powerful political affiliations,” a PRECIFAC source, who declined to name the VVIP, said.

The sources said the PRECIFAC had received a significant number of complaints over corruption and fraud against various top officials including ex-ministers, ex-deputy ministers and other senior government officials who engaged in corrupt acts during the tenure of the previous Government.

The PRECIFAC, which is investigating and inquiring into serious acts of fraud, corruption and abuse of power and state resources and privileges, was appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena and it has the power to summon any individual regardless of their political standing or affiliations.

The PRECIFAC commissioners are High Court judges Padman Surasena, Amendra Seneviratna, Vikum Kaluarachchi and Gihan Kulatunga and former Auditor General B.A. Premathilake.