• To reinstate bans if terrorism funding resumes

  BY Buwanajee Coralage   The Ministry of Defence clarified the decision to de-proscribe 316 individuals and six organisations, stating that these entities were involved in terrorism financing-related activities earlier, but no longer appeared to be involved in any such activities. “Accordingly, among the aforesaid 577 individuals and 18 organisations, a decision was made to delist 316 individuals and six organisations, since they no longer continue to fund terrorist activities,” noted an official media statement made by the Ministry yesterday (16). Furthermore, it stated that the authorities will still remain vigilant in monitoring the activities of the delisted entities, and will reinstate the ban in an instance where evidence arises to support their involvement in and financing of terrorism again. “Such inclusions and exclusions for blacklisted individuals and organisations are routinely carried out by the relevant authorities after observation and careful study over a continuous period of time. The relevant authorities remain vigilant on the activities of the de-listed individuals and organisations, and will ban them again if the raising of funds for financing terrorism is resumed,” the Ministry further said. The entities de-listed from the designated list via extraordinary gazette on 1 August are the Australian Tamil Congress (ATC), the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), the World Tamil Coordinating Committee (WTCC), the Tamil Eelam People’s Assembly (TEPA), the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) and the British Tamil Forum (BTF). Moreover, the list was also amended to include 55 more individuals and three organisations whose recent involvement in aiding terrorism has been confirmed. “Furthermore, it has been decided to blacklist 55 individuals and three organisations who were recently recognised as being active in financing terrorism during the period,” read the official press release yesterday.