Sri Lanka has long championed safe, orderly and regular migration as a driver of sustainable development. As one of the early endorsers of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), the country has consistently aligned its migration policies with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This year, the island was officially recognized as a GCM Champion Country, joining a select group of nations that demonstrate innovation and leadership in migration governance.
Building on this momentum, The Government of Sri Lanka officially announced its designation as a Global Compact for Migration (GCM) Champion Country, launching the Migration and SDGs Monitoring Platform (MSMP) and presented the Revised National GCM Implementation Plan (2026–2028) during the high-level national symposium, supported by IOM Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The event brought together stakeholders from government ministries, UN agencies, civil society, academia and the private sector, reflecting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to migration governance.
The Migration and SDGs Monitoring Platform (MSMP) is a new digital tool, launched by Sri Lanka’s Sustainable Development Council with support from the IOM Development Fund. The platform uses reliable data to show how migration contributes to national development goals, helping track progress and guide better decisions for an inclusive and resilient future. Similarly, Sri Lanka has also introduced the Revised National GCM Implementation Plan (2026–2028), a key step toward strengthening migration governance in response to post-crisis challenges and global trends. Led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism with technical support from the IOM and funding from the EU’s , Building Migration Partnerships Programme, the plan was developed through broad consultations to ensure it is practical and inclusive. It aims to strengthen the governance of migration in line with the principles of the GCM, enhance protection and support for migrant workers, and guide evidence-based policies that contribute to Sri Lanka’s sustainable development goals.
Remarking on Sri Lanka’s achievement, Kristin Parco, Chief of Mission of IOM in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, stated, ‘’Sri Lanka has made notable strides in strengthening migration governance in recent years. As a Global Compact for Migration (GCM) Champion Country, the country now serves as a positive model for many in the region. The development of the National GCM Implementation Plan 2026–2028 reflects this collaborative effort, translating global commitments into practical, actionable measures tailored to national priorities and realities.’’
Together, the MSMP and the revised GCM Plan reaffirm Sri Lanka’s leadership in advancing migration governance that is inclusive, evidence-based and aligned with global development goals. For over a decade, IOM in Sri Lanka and the Maldives has been working closely with the Government of Sri Lanka to strengthen migration policies, improve data systems and build capacity, helping create better services for migrant workers and smarter decisions that support Sri Lanka’s development goals.
