Wing Commander Udith Pathirana, Military Research Officer at INSS, presented a paper titled “Leveraging Sri Lanka's National Intelligence: Prospects from Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing” under the Defence and Strategic Studies track, which focuses on enhancing Sri Lanka's national intelligence capabilities through the incorporation of financial intelligence.
The paper explores the role of intelligence in strengthening anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) frameworks to safeguard national security. Accordingly, by analyzing current challenges and opportunities in AML/CTF efforts, the paper highlights the importance of an integrated approach that combines financial oversight, intelligence sharing, and strategic policymaking. The paper argues that leveraging advanced intelligence tools and techniques can disrupt the financial networks that support terrorism and illicit activities. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for collaboration between national intelligence agencies, financial institutions, and international partners to create a robust defence against these threats.
The study offers insights into improving Sri Lanka's intelligence infrastructure, ensuring a more effective response to evolving financial crimes and terrorism.
