The cost of sending Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers to London to investigate President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to England remains undisclosed more than five months after a request was filed under Sri Lanka’s Freedom of Information Act, according to the United National Party (UNP).
The UNP said a request for information submitted in the name of journalist Thilini Ranasinghe on January 8 has not received a response as of June 7. According to the party, the request sought details of the expenditure incurred by CID officers who traveled to the United Kingdom in connection with the investigation.
The party stated that the request was forwarded on January 9 to the Senior Deputy Inspector General in charge of the Criminal Investigation and Financial Crimes Investigation Unit. However, it said the CID has yet to provide the requested information.
According to the UNP, an appeal was subsequently submitted to the Inspector General of Police on January 29 after the initial request remained unanswered.
The party noted that Sri Lanka’s Freedom of Information Act requires relevant information to be provided within 14 days of a request. It said the continued failure to disclose the amount spent on the CID officers’ visit to England has led to questions being raised in several quarters.
The UNP also cited comments made by a leader of a major political party in response to inquiries about the matter. According to the party, the political leader claimed that the cost of the CID officers’ trip to London was significant and comparable to the amount reportedly cited by the CID as the expenditure for the Executive President’s visit to England. The leader further alleged that this was the reason the information had not been released.
The CID had not provided the requested information as of June 7, according to the UNP statement.
