Most of these complaints are against chairmen of urban councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas.

Many financial frauds had taken place under them during the Rajapaksa regime in the construction of rural roads, bridges, community halls and other infrastructure.

The then Economic Development Ministry, and the Urban Development Authority, had disbursed the funds for these projects.

After the change in government, several of these projects had been abandoned, claiming an absence of funds, but investigations revealed that certain contractors had been paid the full amounts.

District secretaries too, accused

These contractors had defrauded money in collaboration with the LG members, with support from divisional and district secretaries loyal to the Rajapaksas.

The FCID marked its first year on February 26, and it is investigating 245 complaints of financial crime against top figures in the ex-regime.

Of them, 35 complaints have been fully investigated and reports sent to the attorney general, and six have been taken to the high court and cases filed.