Colombo: Today, Sri Lanka joins the global community in observing the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. This day serves as a reminder that human trafficking is not a distant crime, as it can occur across borders, within communities, through workplaces, online platforms, and even behind seemingly legitimate opportunities.

According to Ministry of Defence – Sri Lanka, this year’s theme, ‘Trapped Behind the Scam,’ highlights an alarming global trend where organized criminal networks deceive and traffic people. These individuals are subjected to threats, violence, and exploitation and are forced to operate online scams and financial fraud, often against their will.

Many people involved in these scams may themselves be victims. A person seemingly committing a crime could, in fact, be acting under coercion. Behind a computer screen might be someone deprived of freedom, threatened, abused, and forced to deceive others for the benefit of criminal networks. This evolving form of trafficking demands a determi
ned response.

In Sri Lanka, the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force is dedicated to preventing trafficking, identifying and protecting victims, strengthening investigations and prosecutions, and supporting the sustainable reintegration of survivors. Combating trafficking requires the commitment and cooperation of all sectors of society, not just the government.

On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, there is a collective call to protect human dignity, support survivors, and strengthen the resolve to dismantle criminal networks profiting from human exploitation. The aim is to build a future where no person is deceived, controlled, trafficked, or exploited.