Authorities vigilant about de-listed terrorist organisations, persons
The Defence Ministry in a statement said yesterday that authorities continue to be vigilant on the activities of the de-listed individuals and organizations noting that a decision was made to de-list 316 individuals and six organizations since they no longer continue to fund terrorist activities.
The Ministry statement said that according to the blacklisting and de-listing of persons, 577 individuals and 18 organizations were blacklisted in 2021 for financing terrorism under the United Nations Regulation No. 01 of 2012.“After a series of discussions and careful study conducted at the Ministry of Defence by a committee consisting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Attorney General’s Department, key Intelligence Agencies, Law Enforcing Agencies and Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and based on reports and evidences with regard to the financing terrorism by individuals and organizations, recommendations were submitted for the listing and delisting.
Accordingly, among the aforesaid 577 individuals and 18 organizations, a decision was made to delist 316 individuals and 06 organizations since they are no longer continue to fund terrorist activities.“It has been decided to blacklist 55 individuals and three organizations those recently recognized as active in financing terrorism during the period.
“Thus, forwarding the recommendation of the Defence Ministry to the Foreign Affairs Ministry on June 29, 2022 for their consent, 316 individuals and 15 organizations were blacklisted on August 1, 2022 by Extraordinary Gazette No. 2291/02.
“Such inclusions and exclusions for blacklisted individuals and organizations are routinely carried out by relevant authorities after observation and careful study over a continuous period of time.Relevant authorities remain to be vigilant on the activities of the de-listed individuals and organizations and will ban them again, if raising of funds for financing terrorism is resumed”, the Defence Ministry said.