AWARENESS PROGRAMME ON IDENTIFYING VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONDUCTED FOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN KANDY

A two-day awareness and capacity-building programme for government officials aimed at strengthening efforts to identify and assist victims of human trafficking was conducted in Kandy on 30 and 31 March 2026.

The programme was organized by the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF), in collaboration with the Kandy District Secretariat, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government. A total of 27 government officials representing key frontline institutions participated in the programme.

The sessions focused on enhancing the capacity of government officials to better identify victims of human trafficking and provide appropriate assistance through established referral and support mechanisms.

The programme was conducted in line with the National Strategic Action Plan to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking (NSAP) 2026–2030, which aims to strengthen Sri Lanka’s institutional response to human trafficking and improve coordination among relevant stakeholders.

During the two-day programme, participants engaged in interactive discussions, case studies, and knowledge-sharing sessions to better understand trafficking indicators, victim identification, and inter-agency collaboration required to respond to human trafficking cases.

By strengthening the knowledge and awareness of government officials, the programme contributes to improving early identification of victims and facilitating timely assistance. It also highlights the continued collaboration between national authorities and international partners in addressing human trafficking.