Sri Lanka officially launched its National Strategic Action Plan to monitor and combat human trafficking (2026–2030) at an event in Colombo, attended by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.
The five-year plan, unveiled under the leadership of the Ministry of Defence with technical support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), establishes a unified national framework to prevent trafficking, protect and assist victims, strengthen law enforcement, and enhance accountability.
Addressing the event, the PM Amrasuriya reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening national efforts to prevent and address human trafficking, stating that the Action Plan must transcend its symbolic launch into concrete, coordinated, and sustained implementation.
The Prime Minister also noted that the launch of the National Strategic Action Plan is timely, as it operationalizes the four internationally recognized pillars of the anti-trafficking framework, namely prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership.
“Caring for trafficking survivors in Sri Lanka requires a holistic, gender-sensitive, and survivor-centred approach that addresses both immediate protection and long-term recovery. This includes safe shelter, medical care, and trauma-informed psychological support, with particular attention to women and girls who experience more severe and gendered forms of violence, alongside legal assistance, economic empowerment, and skills development to prevent re-trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a structural and social challenge that requires sustained, multi-sectoral action. Ministries and government agencies must embed anti-trafficking priorities into their core strategies and day-to-day operations, ensuring institutional integration and professional accountability,” she added. (Newswire)