The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has announced the appointment of a High-Level Task Force on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) to oversee preparations for the country’s third Mutual Evaluation on its AML/CFT framework.
The Task Force is chaired by Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, PC, Retired Judge of the Supreme Court, and includes Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, Labour Minister and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Central Bank Senior Deputy Governor Nelumani Daulagala, and Finance Ministry Additional Director General A. K. D. Arandara.
Sri Lanka’s third Mutual Evaluation, coordinated by the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), will assess the country’s compliance with the 40 Recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and their effective implementation through 11 Immediate Outcomes.
The government has approved action plans to address gaps in the AML/CFT framework, with key institutions such as the Attorney General’s Department, Sri Lanka Police, and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption tasked with implementing necessary reforms.
Originally established in 2023, the AML/CFT Task Force has now been reconstituted with high-level ministerial representation under the President’s direction, reinforcing the government’s commitment to combating financial crimes and corruption.
At its first meeting on January 29, 2025, Task Force members emphasized the strategic importance of the upcoming Mutual Evaluation and called for full cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure a successful assessment.
