Shanakiyan warns against sweeping Police powers in anti‑Money Laundering Bills

July 10, 2026 at 11:06 AM

Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam cautioned Parliament that new legislation on money laundering and terrorist financing risks granting the police “sweeping and virtually unlimited powers without requiring prior judicial oversight.”

Addressing Parliament, Shanakiyan said the Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, the Financial Transactions Reporting (Amendment) Bill, and the Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Bill, while aimed at strengthening anti‑corruption and financial transparency, could undermine accountability if passed in their current form.

Stating that he strongly opposes money laundering, he said, however, this new legislation grants the police sweeping and virtually unlimited powers without requiring prior judicial oversight.

“There are approximately 80,000 officers in the Sri Lanka Police. The Police Media Spokesperson himself recently acknowledged that he cannot personally vouch for the integrity of every officer. If this Bill becomes law in its current form, it will confer unchecked powers on the police, creating the risk of abuse, corruption, and misconduct,” he said. 

Shanakiyan argued that such powers should rest with the judiciary, not solely with the police, noting that under the proposed law officers could freeze property for up to 35 days without court approval. 

He also criticized provisions granting extensive authority to the Financial Intelligence Unit and committees accountable only to the Cabinet.

“If this Bill is enacted in its present form, these powers could be used in ways that seriously affect ordinary citizens. Assets could be frozen for extended periods based solely on police suspicion, without prior judicial approval. The people of the North and East continue to live under the pressures of heavy policing and militarisation. Decisions made solely on the basis of police suspicion could have serious consequences for our communities,” he said, highlighting the impact on communities in the North and East.

The MP urged the Government to consider safeguards against future misuse, stressing that laws must be framed not only for those in office today but also for administrations to come. (Newswire)