Three names removed from terror financing list

The Government has removed the names of three individuals from a 39-page list of designated persons, groups and entities suspected of financing terrorism.

The list was compiled and issued in March this year in terms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1373 which sets out guidelines to combat terrorism financing.

The Defence Secretary is the Competent Authority in charge of the compilation of the list.

A Gazette notification issued on Wednesday under Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s signature removed the names of Karunanithi Thurairatnam aka Thurai, Sutharasan Kailayanathan and Thanushkody Premani from the list.

Mr. Thurairatnam, 45, is a resident of France; Mr. Kailayanathan, 40, lives in India; and Ms. Thanushkody, whose date of birth is not specified, lives in Sri Lanka.

The notification states that their names have been struck off by the Minister of External Affairs.

According to regulations governing the inclusion and removal of names from the list, a person, group or entity designated and included in the list may seek revocation of the designation and request removal from the list, by written application to the Competent Authority.

The Competent Authority shall recommend to the External Affairs Minister the removal of the names of any person, group or entity designated from the list.

Inclusion in the list does not denote a prohibition. However, the Government has the option of banning or proscribing its members by passing legislation in Parliament.

The substantial effect of an order under the gazetted regulation is that the funds, assets and economic resources belonging to or owned by the designated persons or entities remain frozen until they are removed from the designated list. Moving, transferring or dealing with frozen assets without the permission of the Competent Authority is prohibited. In terms of the regulation, any person who fails to comply with an order to freeze assets is liable for heavy penalties.