A sweeping five year national strategy reframes human trafficking as a security threat while placing survivors at the centre of protection, justice, and long term recovery.
Sri Lanka has formally unveiled a comprehensive five year National Strategic Action Plan to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking, marking a renewed and more coordinated national commitment to eliminate trafficking in all its forms. Covering the period from 2026 to 2030, the plan was officially launched by the National Anti Human Trafficking Task Force, signalling a decisive shift in how the country addresses one of its most complex and damaging crimes.
The launch ceremony was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and brought together a broad cross section of stakeholders involved in counter trafficking efforts. Senior government officials, international partners, and civil society representatives were present, reflecting the multi sectoral approach underpinning the strategy. 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 took part.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Amarasuriya emphasized that tackling human trafficking requires far more than rescue operations alone. She underscored the importance of a survivor centered approach that recognises the long term physical, psychological, and economic impacts of trafficking. According to the Prime Minister, genuine recovery demands a holistic and gender sensitive response that combines safe shelter, medical care, and trauma informed psychological support with legal assistance, economic empowerment, and skills development. She highlighted that women and girls, who often experience more severe and gendered forms of violence linked to trafficking, require particular attention within national protection frameworks.
The Action Plan has been 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 initiatives. The plan establishes a unified national framework designed to strengthen prevention mechanisms, enhance victim protection, improve law enforcement responses, and ensure greater accountability across institutions involved in combating trafficking.
Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha described human trafficking not merely as a social or criminal issue, but as a national security concern with far reaching consequences. He warned that trafficking threatens social stability, fuels organized crime networks, undermines effective migration governance, and erodes public trust in institutions. He said the implementation of the Action Plan would be guided by discipline, accountability, consistency, and transparency, underscoring the government’s intention to treat trafficking as a priority issue embedded within the country’s broader security and governance agenda.
The strategy was developed with technical support from the International Organization for Migration and 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 closely with international standards and best practices. At the same time, it seeks to address emerging challenges, including cyber enabled trafficking and the growing misuse of digital platforms and artificial intelligence for recruitment, deception, and exploitation.
Kristin Parco welcomed the launch of the new Action Plan, noting that the International Organization for Migration has worked alongside the Sri Lankan government for more than a decade to strengthen national systems to combat human trafficking. She described the strategy as ambitious yet practical, grounded in global norms while reflecting Sri Lanka’s specific social, economic, and migration realities. According to Parco, the plan represents an important step toward eradicating human trafficking and strengthening long term national resilience against the crime.
The Action Plan places strong emphasis on prevention through community awareness, education, and risk reduction, recognising that informed communities are critical to reducing vulnerability. It also prioritises comprehensive protection and assistance for victims, alongside strengthened investigations and prosecutions through improved inter agency coordination and cross border cooperation. Enhanced policy development, data collection, monitoring, and coordination mechanisms form another core pillar of the strategy.
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. Together, the strategy aims to deliver a more integrated, survivor focused, and security conscious national response, positioning Sri Lanka to confront human trafficking with greater effectiveness, accountability, and resolve over the next five years.
