News
Retd. SC Justice Aluwihare leads anti-money laundering drive
Retired Judge of the Supreme Court Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, PC, has been appointed Chairman of the high level task force on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has issued the following statement that dealt with the new mechanism: “Sri Lanka’s third Mutual Evaluation on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework, coordinated by the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), is set to begin in the near future. During this upcoming Mutual Evaluation, Sri Lanka is required to demonstrate Technical Compliance with the 40 Recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (the global policy setter on AML/CFT) and their effective implementation through 11 Immediate Outcomes.
For effective implementation of the Action Plans, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, outlining the actions to rectify the remaining gaps in the AML/CFT framework have been communicated to the relevant stakeholder institutions, namely, the Attorney General’s Department, Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Customs, Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Department of the Registrar of Companies, Inland Revenue Department, Department of Excise, Legal Draftsman’s Department, Registrar General’s Department, Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, Construction Industry Development Authority, National Gem and Jewellery Authority, National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organizations and Department of Import and Export Control. An AML/CFT Task Force was initially established in 2023 with the concurrence of the Cabinet-of-Ministers to monitor and follow-up the implementation of the aforesaid Institution wise Action Plans.
The AML/CFT Task Force has now been reconstituted with high-level ministerial representation under the directions of the President ensuring government’s support for this process and in alignment with its efforts to fight corruption in Sri Lanka. The members of this high-level AML/CFT Task Force are as follows:
(i). Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, PC – Retired Judge of the Supreme Court (Chairman), (ii). Harshana Nanayakkara – Minister of Justice, (iii). (Prof.) Anil Jayantha Fernando – Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, (iv). (Dr.) Harshana Suriyapperuma – Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, (v). Nelumani Daulagala – Senior Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and (vi). A.K.D.D.D Arandara – Additional Director General, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
At its first meeting on 29.01.2025, the Chairman and the members of the Task Force highlighted the strategic importance of the Mutual Evaluation and requested the full cooperation and coordinated assistance of each stakeholder institution to successfully face this crucial assessment.”
Ratnapura District SJB MP Hesha Withanage yesterday tabled several documents in Parliament to substantiate his allegations against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). He presented an Executive Committee meeting minute, claiming that according to it, payments to IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon had been approved.
The MP said that the SLC Executive Committee had appointed Tennakoon, the then Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Western Province, as an Advisor to the Security Consultant of Sri Lanka Cricket.
The contract, effective from August 16, 2021, included a monthly allowance of Rs. 150,000, 200 litres of fuel per month, a Rs. 5,000 mobile phone allowance, a laptop, a mobile phone, and medical insurance, MP Withanage told Parliament.
The MP tabled the document in the House in response to SLC’s recent denial of his claims. The SLC had previously dismissed allegations that Tennakoon had been paid or provided with perks, calling them baseless and false.
The SLC denial came after Withanage, commencing the Committee Stage budget debate under the Head of Expenditure of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, claimed on Tuesday (18) that IGP Tennakoon had been on the payroll of SLC.
MP Withanage criticised the government, stating it had no intention of preventing the accused group from contesting the upcoming SLC election on 31 March. He also accused the current Sports Minister of supporting a corrupt faction within SLC and announced plans to take legal action over the matter.
“This denial by SLC is irrelevant,” Withanage said. “We have a copy of the report approved by the Executive Committee.”
By Saman Indrajith
Election Commission (EC) Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake yesterday announced that the Local Government (LG) elections would be held on 6 May 2025.The date was revealed during a special media briefing following the conclusion of the submission of nominations for LG polls.
Nominations for 336 LG institutions, which began on 17 March, were officially closed at 12:00 noon yesterday. Additionally, the deadline for placing deposits ended at midnight on 19 March.The EC said 17,296,330 persopns were eligible to vote in this year’s LG elections.
by Ranil Dharmasena
The Sri Lanka Navy conducted a successful shipwreck expedition from 10 to 17 March focusing on historically significant shipwrecks located in the sea area off the coast of Colombo.
The expedition was carried out to document the current state of numerous shipwrecks lying beneath the waves, off Colombo. The survey included the Coal Wreck, Chief Dragon Car Carrier, MV Astoria, MT Nilgiri, Thermopylae Sierra, MV Pecheur Breton, Taprobane East Wreck, SS Worcestershire, Toilet Barge, SS Perseus and some other unidentified wrecks, according to the Navy.
Navy divers explored a series of shipwrecks, including the historically significant SS Worcestershire and SS Perseus, both sunk during World War I. Beyond their historical value, the wrecks of the Chief Dragon Car Carrier and Thermopylae Sierra are now functioning as thriving artificial reefs, providing habitats for a variety of marine species.
A total of 14 diving officers and 15 diving sailors participated in this intensive shipwreck expedition. They used both atmospheric air and nitrox air mix as breathing agents, depending on depth and dive duration. This enhanced safety and efficiency, particularly for deeper and more complex dives.
Showers above 50 mm can be expected at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
‘Deshabandu is on SLC payroll’; Hesha tables documents
LG polls on 06 May
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