Colombo: The National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) officially launched the National Strategic Action Plan to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking (2026-2030) on 28 January 2026, reaffirming Sri Lanka’s strong commitment to eliminating all forms of human trafficking and strengthening coordinated national responses.
According to Ministry of Defence – Sri Lanka, the launch was held under the patronage of Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The event was also attended by Hon Parinda Ranasinghe Jnr, PC, Attorney General of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Chair of the NAHTTF, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha; and Kristin Parco, IOM Chief of Mission in Sri Lanka and Maldives. Members of the NAHTTF representing 23 key government entities, along with representatives of the diplomatic community, United Nations entities and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), were present.
Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, emphasized the
importance of a holistic, gender-sensitive, and survivor-centered approach to caring for trafficking survivors in Sri Lanka. This involves addressing immediate protection and long-term recovery needs, including safe shelter, medical care, trauma-informed psychological support, legal assistance, economic empowerment, and skills development to prevent re-trafficking.
The Ministry of Defence, leading the NAHTTF, unveiled the five-year Action Plan, which is responsible for strategic guidance, coordination, and oversight of counter-trafficking efforts in Sri Lanka. Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha highlighted that the Ministry views human trafficking as a national security concern, affecting social stability, fueling organized crime, undermining migration governance, and eroding public trust. The Plan’s implementation will focus on discipline, accountability, consistency, and transparency.
Developed with technical support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the National Strategic Action
Plan 2026-2030 offers a unified national framework to prevent human trafficking, protect and assist victims, strengthen law enforcement responses, and enhance accountability. It draws from extensive consultations with NAHTTF, CSOs, frontline responders, and international partners. The plan aligns with international standards and addresses challenges like cyber-enabled trafficking and exploitation through digital platforms and artificial intelligence.
Kristin Parco of IOM expressed the organization’s long-standing collaboration with the Sri Lankan government and its role in supporting the Action Plan’s development. The plan is both ambitious and practical, rooted in global standards and Sri Lanka’s realities, moving closer to eradicating human trafficking in the country.
The Action Plan is structured around four pillars: prevention through community awareness and risk-reduction; victim-centered protection and assistance; strengthened investigations and prosecution; and improved policy, data, and national coo
rdination mechanisms. These efforts will be coordinated through the NAHTTF.
IOM will continue its partnership with the Sri Lankan government and the NAHTTF to ensure the effective implementation of the National Strategic Action Plan to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking (2026-2030). The organization supports all counter-trafficking and victim protection efforts, strengthening national and district-level mechanisms to provide comprehensive support for responders and services for trafficking survivors.