By The Pulseline News Desk
As human trafficking grows increasingly complex, fuelled by digital technology, organised crime and deceptive overseas recruitment, Sri Lanka is seeking to strengthen its response through a new national strategy aimed at preventing exploitation and improving protection for victims.
The National Strategic Action Plan on Combating Human Trafficking (2026–2030), presented to members of parliament (MPs) during a recent awareness programme at the Parliament Complex, signals a renewed effort to tackle one of the world’s fastest-growing transnational crimes through a coordinated, whole-of-government approach.
Jointly organised by the Ministry of Defence’s National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force and the Parliament of Sri Lanka, the programme brought together lawmakers, legal experts and senior government officials to examine emerging trafficking trends and the country’s policy response.
At the heart of the new strategy are four key priorities: preventing human trafficking, identifying and protecting victims, strengthening the criminal justice response and improving coordination among State institutions responsible for combating the crime.
Officials say these pillars are intended to move beyond reactive law enforcement by creating a more integrated framework that addresses both the causes and consequences of human trafficking.
An evolving criminal enterprise
Addressing the programme, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Chairman of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, Retired Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, warned that human trafficking has undergone a significant transformation in recent years.
Rather than relying solely on traditional methods, traffickers are increasingly exploiting digital platforms, social media and online recruitment channels to identify and lure victims with false promises of employment or better opportunities abroad.
He noted that deceptive foreign employment offers, fraudulent recruitment agencies and technology-enabled recruitment have emerged as major challenges for law enforcement agencies.
Authorities are also confronting a broader range of exploitation than in the past. Victims are not only subjected to forced labour and sexual exploitation but are also increasingly coerced into participating in criminal activities, often as part of sophisticated transnational criminal networks.
These developments, officials say, require responses that extend beyond conventional policing and demand closer cooperation among government agencies, international partners and the private sector.
Prevention and protection
While criminal prosecutions remain a central component of Sri Lanka’s anti-trafficking efforts, the new strategic action plan places significant emphasis on prevention and victim protection.
Preventing trafficking involves raising public awareness, strengthening oversight of labour migration and recruitment practices, improving early detection of trafficking risks and reducing vulnerabilities among groups most likely to be targeted.
Equally important is the identification and protection of victims, many of whom remain hidden due to fear, coercion or a lack of awareness of available support mechanisms.
Officials say ensuring that victims receive appropriate legal assistance, healthcare, psychosocial support and safe rehabilitation will be critical to the strategy’s success.
Strengthening the justice system
Another key objective of the 2026–2030 action plan is enhancing Sri Lanka’s criminal justice response.
This includes improving investigations, strengthening prosecutions, building the capacity of law enforcement agencies and ensuring that trafficking cases are handled more effectively within the legal system.
Given the increasingly international nature of trafficking networks, authorities also recognise the importance of stronger cooperation with foreign governments and international organisations to disrupt cross-border criminal operations.
The awareness programme itself reflected this emphasis on legal preparedness.
Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel Haripriya Jayasundara and State Counsel Sajith Bandara of the Attorney General’s Department delivered presentations outlining recent trafficking trends and the legal and policy frameworks available to address them.
The sessions were designed to equip MPs with a deeper understanding of the evolving nature of human trafficking and the legislative measures required to strengthen Sri Lanka’s response.
A whole-of-Government approach
The programme drew participation from across the political and administrative spectrum, underscoring the recognition that combating human trafficking requires sustained institutional collaboration.
Among those attending were Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala, Deputy Minister of Defence Retired Major General Aruna Jayasekara, MPs and senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, Parliament and the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force.
Officials say effective implementation of the new strategy will depend on maintaining strong coordination among ministries, law enforcement agencies, judicial institutions and social service providers.
Responding to a growing global challenge
Human trafficking remains one of the most profitable forms of organised crime globally, affecting millions of people through forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and other forms of abuse.
For Sri Lanka, the challenge is becoming increasingly intertwined with labour migration, digital technology and organised transnational crime.
The 2026–2030 National Strategic Action Plan represents an acknowledgement that traditional approaches alone are no longer sufficient.
By combining prevention, victim-centred protection, stronger law enforcement and enhanced institutional cooperation, authorities hope to build a more resilient national framework capable of responding to an evolving criminal landscape.
As traffickers continue to adapt their methods, the effectiveness of Sri Lanka’s new strategy will ultimately be measured by its ability to protect vulnerable individuals, prosecute offenders and reduce opportunities for exploitation in an increasingly interconnected world.
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