APG opens Sri Lanka’s third AML/CFT evaluation

Wednesday, 28 October 2026 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe (left) with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya

PM says financial system strength rests on effectiveness, not just laws and institutions
Corruption, eroding trust in State financial institutions flagged as threat to economic, political stability
Evaluation to test progress against financial crime and alignment with international standards
Govt. pledges full engagement with assessors to retain confidence of international partners, investors

The Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) yesterday held the inaugural meeting of Sri Lanka’s Third Mutual Evaluation on Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF), with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stressing that the credibility of the country’s financial system would be judged on how its safeguards work in practice.

A mutual evaluation is a peer review of how effectively a country prevents its financial system from being used to launder money and to finance terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

“The strength of a country’s financial system depends not only on the institutions and regulations it puts in place, but also on how effectively they work together in practice,” Dr. Amarasuriya said.

She said the evaluation provided an important opportunity for Sri Lanka to demonstrate its progress in combating financial crime, identify areas requiring further improvement and strengthen alignment with international standards.

Dr. Amarasuriya warned that corruption and the erosion of public trust in State institutions, particularly financial institutions, posed significant challenges to economic and political stability. Addressing these through transparency, accountability, strong institutional coordination and effective enforcement was essential to safeguarding financial integrity, restoring public confidence and strengthening the country’s economic resilience, she said.

She reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working constructively with the assessment team and all relevant stakeholders to strengthen Sri Lanka’s AML/CFT/CPF framework, address emerging risks and uphold the confidence of international partners and investors, the Prime Minister’s Media Division said.

The meeting was attended by Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, the Secretary to the Minister of Justice and National Integration, members of the Financial Intelligence Unit and members of the assessment team.