A Sri Lankan opposition legislator has warned that three key financial crime bills now before Parliament risk granting the police sweeping powers without judicial oversight, creating what he described as a serious threat to civil liberties. The remarks were made by MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, who said his party supports strong anti‑corruption laws but cannot endorse legislation that “concentrates extraordinary authority in the hands of the police.”
Rasamanickam said the Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, the Financial Transactions Reporting (Amendment) Bill, and the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Bill contain provisions that undermine accountability mechanisms essential in a democratic system. He noted that while his party has consistently backed efforts to curb money laundering and improve financial transparency — including voluntarily disclosing their own assets and liabilities — the current drafts go far beyond what is necessary for effective enforcement.
According to Rasamanickam, the bills would allow police officers to freeze an individual’s property for up to 35 days without prior court approval, a power he said is vulnerable to misuse given the size of the police force and the absence of safeguards. He cited the Police Media Spokesperson’s own admission that he cannot personally vouch for the integrity of all 80,000 officers.
Rasamanickam argued that such powers must rest with the judiciary, not the police, warning that unchecked authority could lead to “abuse, corruption, arbitrary action, and even black‑market practices.” He also raised concerns about Section 24 of the Financial Transactions Reporting (Amendment) Bill, which establishes a committee that reports only to the Cabinet rather than Parliament, and about the Financial Intelligence Unit, which he said is being granted extensive powers without clear parliamentary accountability.
The MP highlighted the long‑standing experience of residents in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, who he said already face frequent and intrusive investigations by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID). Young people, party members, and even individuals receiving remittances from relatives abroad are routinely summoned for questioning, he said. Granting police the ability to freeze assets based solely on suspicion would deepen these vulnerabilities.
Rasamanickam urged the government to consider how future administrations might use — or misuse — such powers. “Laws must be framed not only for those in office today but also with safeguards against abuse by those who may govern tomorrow,” he said.
He added that similar concerns were raised during the debate on the Online Safety Bill, when many of those now in government supported placing such powers under judicial authority rather than unelected bodies.