The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has called on the government to withdraw recently tabled amendment bills related to anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) and to initiate a more inclusive consultative process.
In a statement issued on Thursday (09), the CPA raised concerns over the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Bill and the Financial Transactions Reporting (Amendment) Bill, which were presented in Parliament.
The organisation states that the bills, introduced to align with Financial Action Task Force requirements (FATF), contain provisions that could expand investigative powers with limited judicial oversight and pose risks to privacy and professional responsibilities.
It also criticised the legislative process, noting that the bills were not subject to adequate public consultation and were tabled ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period, limiting the time available for legal challenges.
The CPA warned that such laws could be misused to restrict freedom of expression and association, and urged the government to ensure stronger safeguards against potential abuse. (Newswire)
