Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has highlighted the importance of Sri Lanka’s Third Mutual Evaluation on Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) as a key opportunity for the country to demonstrate its progress in combating financial crime, identify areas for improvement and strengthen compliance with international standards.

Addressing the inaugural meeting of the evaluation, conducted by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), the Prime Minister stressed that the strength of a country’s financial system depends not only on the laws and institutions established but also on their effectiveness, accountability and integrity in practice, the Office of the Prime Minister’s Media Division said in a statement.
She noted that corruption and the erosion of public trust in state institutions, particularly financial institutions, pose significant challenges to economic and political stability.

The Prime Minister emphasised that greater transparency, accountability, strong institutional coordination and effective enforcement are essential to safeguarding financial integrity, restoring public confidence and strengthening Sri Lanka’s economic resilience.

She reaffirmed the present government’s commitment to working constructively with the assessment team and relevant stakeholders to further strengthen the country’s AML/CFT/CPF framework, address emerging risks and maintain the confidence of international partners and investors.

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