Awareness programme in year 2026

Progress Review Session on the AML/CFT Action Plan of National Gem and Jewellery Authority – January 2026

A progress review session on the AML/CFT Action Plan of 2023-2028 of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority was held on 22^nd January 2026 at the Authority Head Office premises, with the participation of the eminent retired judge of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare PC and the officers of the FIU, Sri Lanka including Dr. Subhani Keerthiratne, Director, Financial Intelligence Unit, Dr. Ayesh Ariyarathne, Additional Director, Financial Intelligence Unit and Ms. Theja Pathberiya, Deputy Director, Financial Intelligence Unit.

Hon. Justice Buwanke Aluwihare PC, being the Chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Task Force, stressed the national importance of strengthening AML/CFT framework of the country particularly ahead of the third mutual evaluation and the urgent need of accelerating institutional action plans to address remaining gaps.

The session was attended by the Board of Directors of the Authority and the senior management. During the session, the progress of the actions completed under the AML/CFT action plan was discussed and finalized a time-bound roadmap to address delays/ bottlenecks.

AML/CFT AWARENESS SERIES FOR THE GEM AND JEWELLERY DEALERS IN COLOMBO

The National Gem and Jewellery Authority successfully conducted a series of AML/CFT awareness sessions for the gem and jewellery dealers in Colombo on 10^th February 2026. Accordingly, around 32 gem and jewellery dealers have been visited by the Enforcement Officers of the Authority located within Colombo to verify the effectiveness of their AML/CFT compliance level and to enhance awareness.

The primary objective of the session series was to bridge the gap between the common understanding of hard to comply to productive application in the day-to-day gem and jewellery business. The sessions mainly dealt on the following.

• Importance of adopting an Institutional AML/CFT Policy
• Conducting CDD/ ECDD measures.
• Application of sanction screening tool.
• Institutional risk assessment and red flags

The gem and jewellery dealers diligently and proactively engaged in the awareness sessions indicating their willingness to improve the compliance within the sector

AML/CFT Awareness Leaflets Distribution at Jaffna  – 22^nd and 23^rd January 2026

The National Gem and Jewellery Authority disseminated information brochures on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Terrorist Financing Regulations applicable for the gem and jewellery industry during the mobile services targeting the gem and jewellery dealers held on 22^nd and 23^rd January 2026.

“Shaping the Future of Gem and Jewellery Industry” – Exclusive Knowledge Sharing Session for the Gem and Jewellery Dealers

The National Gem and Jewellery Authority, together with the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association and the Financial Intelligence Unit of Sri Lanka, successfully conducted an awareness session on 16^th February 2026 at the DHPL Building Auditorium, Colombo 02 for the gem and jewellery dealers, exporters and gemologists located in Colombo.

The renowned resource persons: Dr. Daniel Nufeler, Managing Director of the Gübelin Gem Lab Ltd, Switzerland and Ms. Theja Pathberiya, Deputy Director, Financial Intelligence Unit delivered in -depth presentations respectively on ‘Technology driven innovations for the gemstone industry’ and ‘Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing for Terrorism Regulations applicable to the Gem & Jewellery Industry’.

This combination addressed the dynamic shift in the regulatory landscape of gem and jewellery industry where AML/CFT compliance with advanced technologies like blockchain applications are no longer optional, but a necessity to ensure sustainability and integrity in the industry.