Sri Lanka has unveiled a comprehensive five-year National Strategic Action Plan to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking, signaling a renewed and strengthened commitment to eliminating trafficking in all its forms and improving national coordination to address the crime. The plan, covering the period from 2026 to 2030, was officially launched by the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force on Tuesday.
The launch ceremony was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and brought together senior government officials, international partners, and civil society representatives. Among those in attendance were Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe Jnr, PC, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha in his capacity as Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Chair of the Task Force, and Kristin Parco, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Representatives from 23 government institutions, the diplomatic community, United Nations agencies, and civil society organizations also participated.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Amarasuriya emphasized the need for a survivor-centered response to human trafficking that goes beyond immediate rescue. She stressed that caring for survivors requires a holistic and gender-sensitive approach, combining safe shelter, medical care, and trauma-informed psychological support with legal assistance, economic empowerment, and skills development to prevent re-trafficking. She highlighted that women and girls, who often face more severe and gendered forms of violence, require particular attention within national protection mechanisms.
The Action Plan was developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Defence, which chairs the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, the country’s principal multi-stakeholder body responsible for strategic guidance, coordination, and oversight of counter-trafficking efforts. The plan establishes a unified national framework aimed at prevention, victim protection, strengthened law enforcement responses, and improved accountability across institutions.
Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha described human trafficking as not only a social or criminal issue but a national security concern that threatens social stability, fuels organized crime, undermines migration governance, and erodes public trust. He said implementation of the plan would be guided by discipline, accountability, consistency, and transparency, underscoring the government’s intent to treat trafficking as a priority issue affecting the country’s broader security and governance structures.
Developed with technical support from the International Organization for Migration, the strategy draws on extensive consultations with government agencies, civil society organizations, frontline responders, and international partners. It builds on lessons learned from previous action plans and aligns with international standards, while addressing emerging challenges such as cyber-enabled trafficking and the misuse of digital platforms and artificial intelligence for recruitment and exploitation.
Kristin Parco welcomed the launch, noting that IOM has worked alongside the Sri Lankan government for more than a decade to strengthen national systems to combat trafficking. She described the new plan as ambitious yet practical, grounded in global standards while reflecting Sri Lanka’s specific realities, and said it marked an important step toward eradicating human trafficking in the country.
The Action Plan places strong emphasis on prevention through community awareness and risk reduction, comprehensive protection and assistance for victims, strengthened investigations and prosecutions through improved inter-agency and cross-border cooperation, and enhanced policy, data, and coordination mechanisms. These efforts will be coordinated through the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, with expanded partnerships involving civil society, the private sector, international organizations, and regional networks.
