The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has called on the government to withdraw two amendment bills tightening Sri Lanka’s anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism-financing regime, warning that the proposed laws were rushed to Parliament without adequate public consultation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the civil society group raised concerns over the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Bill and the Financial Transactions Reporting (Amendment) Bill, both of which have been presented to the House as part of the government’s effort to align Sri Lankan law with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements.
The CPA said the bills contained provisions that could significantly expand the investigative powers of state agencies with only limited judicial oversight, and argued that some clauses posed risks to privacy rights and to the professional responsibilities of lawyers, journalists and financial professionals. It also criticised the legislative process itself, noting that the bills were tabled immediately ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period, limiting the time available for civil society, the bar and the public to file constitutional challenges before the Supreme Court’s review window closes.
The group warned that laws drafted without sufficient safeguards could be misused to restrict freedom of expression and freedom of association, and urged the government to reintroduce the measures only after a genuine consultative process with legal experts, affected professions and affected communities.
Sri Lanka’s FATF status has become a recurring compliance pressure point for the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry, and the two amendment bills were prepared to address outstanding technical deficiencies flagged during recent international reviews. The government has not yet responded to the CPA’s call for withdrawal.
