Sri Lanka removed from FATF’s Grey List after nation shows significant progress in countering terrorism

Sri Lanka has been removed from the 'Grey List' of the international terror financing watchdog FATF, according to a media report.

Press Trust of India October 19, 2019 22:32:39 IST
Sri Lanka removed from FATF’s Grey List after nation shows significant progress in countering terrorism
  • Sri Lanka has been removed from the "Grey List" of the international terror financing watchdog FATF, according to a media report

  • The FATF said Sri Lanka made significant progress in addressing the strategic AML/CFT deficiencies identified earlier, the daily said

  • The Paris based organisation indicated Sri Lanka had not made sufficient progress in four parameters - international cooperation, supervision, legal persons and arrangements and targeted financial sanctions on proliferations (North Korea and Iran)

Colombo: Sri Lanka has been removed from the "Grey List" of the international terror financing watchdog FATF, according to a media report.

Sri Lanka removed from FATFs Grey List after nation shows significant progress in countering terrorism

File photo of Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena. AFP

The island nation will no longer be subject to the Financial Action Task Force's monitoring under its on-going global anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance process, the Colombo Gazette reported on Saturday.

The FATF said Sri Lanka made significant progress in addressing the strategic AML/CFT deficiencies identified earlier, the daily said.

In October 2016, the FATF announced that Sri Lanka will be subjected to a review of the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) of the terror financing watchdog to assess the progress of AML/CFT effectiveness in the country.

The Paris based organisation indicated Sri Lanka had not made sufficient progress in four parameters - international cooperation, supervision, legal persons and arrangements and targeted financial sanctions on proliferations (North Korea and Iran), the daily said.

At its meeting at Buenos Aires, Argentina in October 2017, the FATF listed Sri Lanka as a jurisdiction with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies which is more commonly identified as "Grey List" and provided a time-bound action plan, the report said.

The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

On Friday, the FATF warned Pakistan of getting blacklisted, if it does not control terror funding by February next year.

According to an official statement, the FATF noted Pakistan addressed only five out of the 27 tasks given to it for controlling funding to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, responsible for a series of attacks in India.

Updated Date:

also read

Sri Lanka imports 2 million eggs from India to deal with shortage
World

Sri Lanka imports 2 million eggs from India to deal with shortage

In January when the market shortages were noticed, the Animal Production and Health Department refused to import eggs from India or Pakistan as both countries reported bird-flu outbreaks in the past six months. Later, the government decided to to import eggs from India to ensure food security

IMF approves USD 3 billion in financial assistance for Sri Lanka
World

IMF approves USD 3 billion in financial assistance for Sri Lanka

The IMF's board also confirmed it has approved the loan, which clears the way for the release of funds and kicks off a four-year programme designed to shore up the South Asian nation's economy

Sri Lanka willing to enhance bilateral trade with India in INR
World

Sri Lanka willing to enhance bilateral trade with India in INR

Sri Lanka's High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda met India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during which he discussed steps to attract Indian investments to his country