Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Commonwealth, all public officers, municipal corporations, other political subdivisions and all other public bodies of the Commonwealth may invest any and all moneys belonging to them or within their control, other than sinking funds that are governed by the provisions of § 2.2-4500, in one or more open-end investment funds, provided that the funds are registered under the Securities Act (§ 13.1-501 et seq.) of the Commonwealth or the Federal Investment Co. Act of 1940, and that the investments by such funds are restricted to investments otherwise permitted by law for political subdivisions as set forth in this chapter, or investments in other such funds whose portfolios are so restricted.