Sri Lankan Officials Sanctioned by the Canadian Government

Please note that this is not legal advice and that the purpose of this video is to share information and spread awareness.

In January 2023, the Canadian government made a historic move in sanctioning the following four Sri Lankan officials, under the Special Economic Measures Act, for gross and systematic violations of human rights during the armed conflict in Sri Lanka from 1983 to 2009:

Former President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa
Former President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake
Lieutenant Commander Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi

What does this mean for you?

If you are a Canadian citizen or company, or a non-Canadian individual or company in Canada, it is illegal for you to engage in most deals with these individuals. This could include deals in real estate, money and digital assets. It could also include property that is partially or indirectly owned or controlled by one of these individuals: for example, real estate owned by a company which one of these individuals control.

You could be engaging in criminal activity if you, directly or indirectly:

Engage in business with these individuals
Facilitate deals for or on behalf of these individuals
Provide services, including financial services to these individuals
Provide goods to these individuals, and/or
Provide goods or services to third-parties which are ultimately for the benefit of sanctioned individuals