As we reported earlier this year, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. Despite multiple government and independent investigations, the extent of the Islamic State’s direct support and broader presence in the country remains unclear.
So, what does the terrorist financing landscape in Sri Lanka look like, and does ISIL actually operate there? Keep reading to find out.
Terrorism Financing Context
Sri Lanka’s counterterrorism efforts have historically focused on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist group active in the civil war until 2009. The LTTE maintained extensive global financing networks through foreign support, wealthy donors, the Tamil diaspora, and charitable organizations while diverting funds to insurgent activities. Its fundraising operations extended to more than fifty countries, at times raising millions per month.
Since the LTTE’s defeat in 2009, publicly documented cases of terrorism financing in Sri Lanka are limited, with most reporting emphasizing regulatory and legal frameworks rather than operational financial networks. On June 3, 2024, however, the Sri Lankan government announced the freezing of all funds, financial assets, and economic resources belonging to 15 groups and 210 individuals allegedly involved in terrorist activities (many of which were from Tamil groups).