Lanka fully enforces sanctions against North Korea

Sri Lanka has given full effect to the United Nations sanctions on North Korea with powers to freeze funds, financial assets and economic resources of persons or entities dealing with that country.

Defence Secretary Kapila Waidyaratne has been officially declared as the Competent Authority to ensure compliance with the sanctions, in keeping with a requirement of the UN Security Council Resolution.

A gazette notification giving full effect to the UN sanctions was published last week and it will now be the responsibility of the relevant agencies and authorities to implement it, a senior Defence Ministry official said. The Government last month listed the designated items, 79 designated persons and 54 other designated entities involving North Korea with which trading and other dealings will be banned.

Under the notification, any Sri Lankan in the country or outside the country cannot supply, sell or transfer directly or indirectly any item designated by the UN to any person in North Korea or a person acting on behalf of that country.

Under the restrictions, Sri Lankans cannot permit the use of a vessel or any aircraft for carrying out any of the restricted activities. Sri Lankans also cannot apply to register vessels in North Korea, lease or operate any vessel flagged by that country.

Under the regulations, Sri Lankans in the country or outside cannot receive assets, financial assistance, technical training or any other assistance related to provisions of manufacture or production, storage etc.

Making available any funds, financial assets and economic resources directly or indirectly to any designated persons or entity also is prohibited. Providing public or private financial assistance for trade with North Korea also remains banned.

The Competent Authority will have wide responsibilities of recommending to the Government to monitor and take action regarding foreign nationals working for designated persons or entities, to close representative offices and persons violating the resolution.

A senior Foreign Ministry official, however, said Sri Lanka continues to maintain diplomatic ties with North Korea through Sri Lanka's Beijing embassy which is accredited to North Korea and North Korea's New Delhi mission which is accredited to Sri Lanka. The UN Security Council imposed sanctions on North Korea due to its nuclear programmes.