The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has the primary responsibility under the United Nations Charter to maintain international peace and security. For this purpose, the UNSC may adopt measures which include:
- economic sanctions, arm embargoes, financial penalties and restrictions, and travel bans;
- governance of diplomatic relations;
- blockade; or
- collective military action
As a member of the United Nations, Sri Lanka is obliged to comply with the Resolutions issued by UNSC. As per the United Nations Act No 45 of 1968, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is required to issue Regulations promulgating such resolutions of the UNSC.
Once the Regulation issued by Minister of Foreign Affairs is tabled in the Parliament it becomes effective and required to be implemented by the relevant authorities as prescribed in such Regulation.
Financial Institutions and Designated Non Finance Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) have the obligation to implement financial restrictions/ financial sanctions by freezing all funds, financial assets and economic resources owned or controlled directly or indirectly by individuals or entities designated by the UNSC or persons acting on their behalf. In addition, the reporting institutions are also prohibited from providing any financial services to the designated individuals and entities. Necessary guidance on the implementation required to be provided by the relevant authorities as required by the Regulation.
SANCTIONS IMPOSED BY THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL (UNSC)
- SANCTIONS RELATED TO TERRORISM AND TERRORISM FINANCING
- SANCTIONS RELATED TO PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION (WMD)
The United Nations Regulations No. 02 of 2012
The United Nations Regulations No. 02 of 2012 issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs promulgating the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267(1999) and the modifications and strengthening of the Resolution’s sanctions regime by subsequent resolutions including 1526 (2004), 1617 (2005), 1735 (2006), 1822 (2008), 1904 (2009), 1988 (2011), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) and any other subsequent resolution on Taliban (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan), Islamic State of Iraq and Levant ( ISIL, also known as Da’esh) and Al-Qaida, imposing upon member States of the United Nations a series of obligations to apply sanction measures to any natural or legal person, group or entity associated with Taliban, ISIL (Da’esh) or Al-Qaida.
UN Resolutions require countries to immediately freeze funds, financial assets or economic resources of individuals and entities who are designated by the United Nations Security Council based on such person’s / entity’s connections with terrorism and terrorist financing. Further, countries should ensure that no funds, financial assets or economic resources are made available to or for the benefit of such designated persons or entities or their beneficiaries. Accordingly, Financial Institutions and Designated Non Finance Businesses and Professions are obliged to have measures in place to identify and freeze funds, financial assets or economic resources of such designated persons and entities immediately.
Under the United Nations Regulations No. 02 of 2012, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defense has been appointed as the Competent Authority for the implementation of UNSCR 1267 and its successor resolutions in Sri Lanka
Regulation
| Date | Description | Download |
| May 31, 2012 | Extraordinary Gazette No 1760/40, May 31 of 2012 – United Nations Regulation No. 2 of 2012 | Sinhala | Tamil | English |
| Nov. 04, 2016 | Extraordinary Gazette No 1991/52, November 04 of 2016 – Amendments to the United Nations Regulations No. 2 of 2012 | Sinhala | Tamil | English |
List of Designated Persons & Entities
The list of individuals and entities sanctioned under these United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1267 and its successor Resolutions (Taliban, ISIL (Da’esh) or Al-Qaida) sanction can be found at the following links at the UNSC website:
Freezing is effective as and when the United Nations Security Council announces the names of such designated persons and entities and such freezing shall be in force until such time the person or entity is delisted from the designated list.
Other Instructions
Circulars by FIU
- Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism and Terrorist Financing Obligation of Reporting Institutions – All Licensed Banks & Licensed Finance Companies
- Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism and Terrorist Financing Obligation of Reporting Institutions – Insurance Companies
- Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism and Terrorist Financing Obligation of Reporting Institutions – Stock Brokering Companies
- Revention and Suppression of Terrorism and Terrorist Financing Obligations of Reporting Institutions – Authorized Money Changers
The United Nations Regulations No. 01 of 2012
The United Nations Regulations No. 01 of 2012 issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs promulgating the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) designating individuals and entities related to terrorism and terrorist financing in national level. Accordingly, Institutions are obliged to have measures in place to identify and freeze funds, financial assets or economic resources of such designated persons and entities upon order by the Competent Authority.
Under the provisions of said regulations Secretary to the Ministry of Defense has been appointed as the Competent Authority for the implementation of UNSCR 1373 and its successor resolutions in Sri Lanka.
Regulation
| Date | Description | Download |
| May 15, 2012 | Extraordinary Gazette No 1758/19, May 15 of 2012 – United Nations Regulation No. 1 of 2012 | Sinhala | Tamil | English |
| Dec 11, 2014 | Extraordinary Gazette No 1892/37, December 11 of 2014 – Amendments to the United Nations Regulations No. 1 and 2 of 2012 | Sinhala | Tamil | English |
List of Designated Persons & Entities
The list of individuals and entities sanctioned under Regulation No 1 of 2012 is as follows:
| Date | Description | Download |
| June 03, 2024 | Amendments made on June 03, 2024 to the List of Designated Persons under Regulation 4(7) of the United Nations Regulations No. 1 of 2012 | Sinhala | Tamil | English |
Other Instructions
Order Under Regulation 5 of the United Nations Regulations No.1 of 2012
Sinhala | Tamil | English
Circulars by FIU
- Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism and Terrorist Financing Obligations of Reporting Institutions (UNSCR 1373) – Licensed Banks and Licensed Finance Companies
- Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism and Terrorist Financing (UNSCR 1373) – Obligations of Insurance Companies
- Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism and Terrorist Financing (UNSCR 1373) – Obligations of Stock Brokers
1. United Nations (Sanctions in Relation to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ) Regulations of 2007
2. Uited Nations (Sanctions in Relation to Iran) Regulations No. 1 of 2018
United Nations (Sanctions in relation to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Regulations of 2017
United Nations (Sanctions in relation to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Regulations of 2017 issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs promulgating the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013), 2270 (2016), 2321 (2016) and successive Resolutions imposing certain measures on DPRK.
These measures include but are not limited to:
- a nuclear, ballistic missiles and other weapons of mass destruction programs-related embargo;
- a ban on the export of luxury goods to the DPRK;
- individual targeted sanctions – namely, a travel ban and/or an assets freeze on designated persons, as well as on any individuals or entities acting on behalf of such designated persons;
- a ban on the provision of financial services or the transfer of financial or other assets, including bulk cash and gold, the opening of banking subsidiaries, the provision of public financial support, new commitments for grants, and financial assistance or concessional loans, that could contribute to prohibited programs or activities, or to the evasion of sanctions;
- prohibition of public and private financial support for trade with the DPRK, including granting of export credits, guarantees or insurance to their nationals, or entities involved in such trade; and
- prohibition from owning, leasing, operating, or providing vessel classification, certification or associated service and insurance, to any DPRK-flagged, owned, controlled or operated vessel.
prohibition from owning, leasing, operating, or providing vessel classification, certification or associated service and insurance, to any DPRK-flagged, owned, controlled or operated vessel.
Regulation
| Date | Description | Download |
| Oct. 6, 2017 | United Nations (Sanctions in relation to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Regulations of 2017 | Sinhala | Tamil | English |
Lists of Designated Items, Persons, and Entities
| Date | Description | Download |
| Apr. 19, 2018 | Lists of designated persons, entities and items under Regulation 4 (2) of the United Nations (Sanctions in relation to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Regulations of 2017 | Sinhala | Tamil | English |
| Aug. 09, 2022 | List of vessels associated with designated persons and entities under Regulation 4 (2) of the United Nations (Sanctions in relation to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Regulations of 2017 | List |
The updated list of designated individuals and entities under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1718 and its successor Resolutions can be found at the following links at the UNSC website:
Order under regulation 19(1) of the United Nations (Sanctions in relation to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Regulations of 2017
Sinhala | Tamil | English
Freezing is effective as and when the United Nations Security Council announces the names of such designated persons and entities and such freezing shall be in force until such time the person or entity is delisted from the designated list.
Other Instructions
Directives/Circulars/Guidelines by FIU/ Competent Authority
- UNSCR 1718 Implementation Practices and Enforcement Obligations, Directives No. 1 of 2019
- UNSCR 1718 Implementation Practices and Enforcement Obligations, Directives No. 1 of 2019
- UNSCR 1718 Implementation Practices and Enforcement Obligations Directives No. 1 of 2017 Repealed
Latest Notification by the FIU
United Nations (Sanctions in relation to Iran) Regulations No. 1 of 2018
United Nations (Sanctions in relation to Iran) Regulations No. 1 of 2018 issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs giving effect to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1737 (2006) and 2231 (2015) and any subsequent resolutions related to Iran and all resolutions that repeal, replace or amend earlier resolutions related to Iran.
These measures include:
Targeted Financial Sanctions – namely, an assets freeze and a ban on the provision of financial services to the designated individuals and entities, as well as on any individuals or entities acting on behalf of such designated individuals and entities;
Regulation
| Date | Description | Download |
| Jul. 17, 2018 | United Nations (Sanctions in relation to Iran) Regulations No. 1 of 2018 | Sinhala | Tamil | English |
| Aug. 21, 2018 | United Nations (Sanctions in relation to Iran) Regulations No. 1 of 2018 (Amendment) | Sinhala | Tamil | English |
The restrictive measures contained in paragraph 6 (c), (d) and (e) of Annex B to resolution 2231 (2015) applied until the date five and eight years after Adoption Day of the JCPOA (18 October 2015). Consequently, the 2231 List has been removed from the Security Council website and corresponding changes were made to the United Nations Security Council Consolidated List.
Other Instructions
Directives/Circulars/Guidelines by FIU/ Competent Authority
Guidelines, No. 7 of 2018 on Implementing United Nations (Sanctions in relation to Iran) Regulations No. 1 of 2018
Directives Issued under the United Nations (Sanctions in relation to Iran) Regulations, No. 1 of 2018
