In terms of the provisions of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, No. 6 of 2006 (FTRA), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Sri Lanka entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department for Registration of Persons on January 11, 2017 at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to receive information in order to facilitate investigations and prosecutions on money laundering and terrorist financing.
Mr. P Viyani Gunathilake, Commissioner General, Department for Registration of Persons and Mr. H. Amarathunga, Director, FIU signed the MOU on behalf of the respective institutions in the presence of Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, who is also the Chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) National Coordinating Committee.
Money laundering and terrorist financing are internationally connected financial crimes which could threaten the stability of global economic and financial system. The MOU would enable sharing information for the identification of persons suspected of being involved in money laundering and terrorist financing, which is vital for intelligence purpose.
The FIU has already entered into similar MOUs with Sri Lanka Customs, Department of Immigration and Emigration and Department of Inland Revenue while arrangements are being made to sign MOUs with other relevant domestic government agencies for the above purpose soon.