STRENGTHENING OFFICERS PREPAREDNESS: LECTURE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING DELIVERED AT VIJAYABAHU INFANTRY REGIMENT

The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment took a significant step forward in officer education and awareness by hosting a lecture on Human Trafficking during its First Quarter Training Day Programme for 139 Officers, held on 04 April 2025 at The Archers Cinema Hall, Boyagane, Kurunegala.

The lecture was delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Asanka Karunarathna, an expert in counter-trafficking measures and a resource person to National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, Sri Lanka. The session, held from 0845 hours to 1145 hours focused on enhancing officers’ understanding of the dynamics, trends, and legal frameworks surrounding human trafficking, with particular emphasis on the relevance of the issue to national security and military responsibilities.

Organized under the guidance of Maj Gen Nalin Bandaranaike, Col of the Regiment with the supervision of Brigadier I G J P K Thilakarathne USP, the Centre Commandant of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, the training was part of the Regiment’s ongoing commitment to the professional development of officers. The initiative aimed to build awareness of non-traditional security threats and to equip officers with the knowledge needed to act as informed leaders both within and beyond the battlefield.

Lt Col Karunarathna’s presentation offered insights into: • The global and local landscape of human trafficking • Methods used by traffickers, including deceptive recruitment and forced labor • Legal provisions under Sri Lankan and international law • The role of military personnel in detection, prevention, and inter-agency coordination

The officers in attendance engaged actively in the session, reflecting the growing recognition within the armed forces of the importance of understanding human security dimensions as part of their broader operational awareness.

This lecture marked an important milestone in integrating cross-cutting human rights and security themes into formal military training. The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment continues to demonstrate leadership in cultivating officers who are not only tactically sound but also socially responsible and legally aware.