SRI LANKA HOSTS THEMATIC DIALOGUE ON TRAFFICKING INTO CYBER-SCAM CENTRES WITH REGIONAL AND DIPLOMATIC PARTICIPATION AT COLOMBO, 22 APRIL 2025

The National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF), in collaboration with the Regional Support Office of the Bali Process (RSO), successfully convened a high-level Thematic Dialogue on Preventing and Responding to Trafficking in Persons into Cyber-Scam Centres at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Colombo.

The Dialogue brought together over 140 participants, with 80 attending in person and an additional 60 joining online. Attendees included representatives from foreign diplomatic missions based in Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan embassies and high commissions abroad, Task Force member institutions, law enforcement and intelligence agencies, international organizations, academia, and individual consultants engaged in counter-trafficking efforts.

The event addressed the growing regional concern of cyber scam centres criminal operations that lure individuals into overseas employment scams, ultimately coercing them into online fraud. This form of trafficking categorized increasingly as forced criminality has gained global attention due to its borderless nature and complex recruitment strategies.

The Dialogue opened with remarks from the Chief of National Intelligence, Head of the Officials Committee of the NAHTTF, who underscored the national security implications and the urgency of regional cooperation:

“We are witnessing a shift in the trafficking landscape where technology is used not just as a tool, but as a trap,” he stated. “Sri Lanka’s response must evolve with foresight, agility, and strong regional partnerships. The Task Force, backed by our diplomatic and law enforcement networks, is committed to this mission.”

Deputy Head of Mission Lalita Kapur of the Australian High Commission delivered Opening Remarks on behalf of the Regional Support Office of the Bali Process, reinforcing the importance of bilateral and multilateral collaboration in responding to this growing challenge.

The morning sessions included a Regional Situational Overview and Q&A, followed by a country-level overview from Sri Lanka, which highlighted the key initiatives taken by the Government of Sri Lanka, led by the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF). These included strengthened coordination mechanisms, enhanced screening protocols at borders and airports, increased engagement with Sri Lankan missions overseas, and the ongoing development of the forthcoming National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP) 2026–2030.

Experts also shared practical experiences and lessons in effective screening at the border, a critical intervention point for early detection of trafficking victims. A technical session examined the use of social media to facilitate cyber-scam operations and the recruitment risks posed by artificial intelligence, emphasizing the need for continuous adaptation of investigative and monitoring strategies.

A high-level panel discussion on prioritising responses to cyber scam centres concluded the technical sessions. Speakers from across the diplomatic, operational, and policy sectors emphasized bilateral cooperation, proactive consular engagement, and the strengthening of victim-centered response mechanisms.

The Dialogue also acknowledged the notable decline in Sri Lankan victims trafficked into cyber scam centres in 2025, which participants attributed to stronger inter-agency coordination, increased public awareness, and early interventions at points of departure and consular contact.

Delivering the Closing Remarks, the Director General of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to embedding the Dialogue’s outcomes into future strategy:

“This Dialogue is not only timely, it is transformative. The voices represented here today will shape how we engage as a country and as a region in our shared responsibility to prevent trafficking. We look forward to integrating these insights into the forthcoming National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP) 2026–2030.”

The Dialogue was the result of a shared vision between the Task Force and the Bali Process RSO, shaped through a series of online coordination meetings and strategic consultations.

The NAHTTF extends its appreciation to the Regional Support Office of the Bali Process, especially Mr. Ryan Winch and his team, for their strong technical collaboration and continued partnership throughout the planning process. Special thanks are also extended to the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) for their professional logistical support and to all participants for contributing to a constructive, regionally grounded, and forward looking forum.