FIU enters into MOU with National Secretariat for NGOs

Saturday, 9 November 2024 00:41 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

FIU Director Dr. Subhani Keerthiratne (left) and National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations Director General Sanjeewa Wimalagunarathna (right) with copy of MOU signed between two organisations in presence of Central Bank Governor and AML/CFT National Coordinating Committee Chairman Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Sri Lanka entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations recently to exchange information on investigations and prosecutions of Money Laundering (ML), Terrorist Financing (TF) and related crimes and of any persons connected thereto.

This MOU has been entered into by the FIU, in terms of the provisions of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, No. 6 of 2006.

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) could be misused for ML/TF and related crimes, and thereby could threaten the stability of the national and global economic and financial systems. The National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations is responsible for registering NGOs, monitoring their activities, providing facilities, and taking action against any misconduct etc. This MOU will facilitate National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations to exchange information with the FIU relating to any incident, investigation or prosecution stemming from the activities carried out by the National Secretariat or on any person connected to such activity, which will be an important aspect in prevention, detection and prosecution of ML/TF and related crimes.

With the signing of this MOU, the FIU has entered into 16 MOUs with domestic Government agencies, including Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Police, Department of Immigration and Emigration, Inland Revenue Department, Department for Registration of Persons, Excise Department of Sri Lanka, Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, Registrar General’s Department etc., to share information to strengthen the AML/CFT framework of the country. The FIU has entered into 45 MOUs with foreign counterparts as well.

National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations Director General and the Registrar Sanjeewa Wimalagunarathna and FIU Director Dr. Subhani Keerthiratne signed the MOU in the presence of Central Bank Governor and AML/CFT National Coordinating Committee Chairman Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe. CBSL Senior Deputy Governor K.M.A.N. Daulagala and Assistant Governor E.H. Mohotty were also present.