Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Ajith Rohana has described the Proceeds of Crime Act as the most significant piece of legislation enacted by Parliament in recent times, noting that it grants far-reaching powers to prosecute offences linked to criminally derived assets.

Speaking on the matter, Rohana said that although efforts to introduce the law had been under way for many years, it was only in 2025 that the legislation was finally passed. He added that he had also contributed to earlier attempts to enact similar provisions in 2002, but those efforts had not materialised at the time.

Rohana explained that even prior to the enactment of the new law, authorities had some capacity to act in respect of property generated through criminal activity. However, he emphasised that the new Act significantly strengthens the legal framework and expands the jurisdiction of Sri Lankan courts.

He further stated that the law provides for action not only in relation to offences committed within Sri Lanka, but also in cases where violations occur overseas, provided there is a link to Sri Lanka. This includes offences involving Sri Lankan citizens, as well as crimes committed on vessels or aircraft registered in Sri Lanka. He added that the jurisdiction extends to offences committed at Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad.

“The best and most exceptional law passed by our Parliament is the Proceeds of Crime Act,” Rohana said. “Its jurisdiction is extensive, and the authority to institute legal proceedings is equally broad.”

He also noted that what had once been a single statute dating back to 1929 has now evolved into seven separate pieces of legislation, reflecting the expansion and modernisation of the country’s legal framework in combating financial and organised crime.