Human trafficking on the rise Sri Lanka sees 60% surge in cases in 2024, Report reveals

By Leenah Wahab

The 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report conducted by the US Department of State disclosed a significant increase in trafficking cases in Sri Lanka, rising from 59 cases in 2023 to 95 cases in 2024.

Of the 95 victims identified, 78 were survivors of labour trafficking, nine of sex trafficking, and eight of other unspecified forms. The report also noted that seven of these victims were Pakistani nationals. Sri Lanka remains on Tier 2 of the TIP Report, indicating that while the country is making efforts to combat trafficking, it does not fully meet the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.

Ms. N.P. Jayasundara, Manager-Human Trafficking unit of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), highlighted that trafficking cases often involve Middle-Eastern countries. She said that illicit employment agencies frequently target vulnerable individuals by offering upfront payments or jobs, later coercing them into exploitation. 

“We handle an average of 2–3 trafficking cases per month, which we hand over to the CID for further investigation,” Jayasundara said. She noted that even those who migrate through legitimate channels are not immune to exploitation, as foreign agents often breach employment contracts once workers arrive overseas.
Jayasundara cited a harrowing case of a 12-year-old girl trafficked for domestic work, underscoring the vulnerabilities faced by children. The TIP Report further raised concerns about the growing use of social media to recruit children for sex trafficking, with Sri Lanka’s coastal areas and tourist hubs flagged as high-risk zones for child exploitation.

Adding to these challenges, the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) recently warned of Sri Lankan IT professionals being trafficked to cybercrime operations in Myanmar. Reports revealed detainees in these camps endure severe human rights abuses, including mental and physical torture.

The SLBFE has ramped up its efforts to address trafficking through monthly awareness programmes aimed at educating the public, public servants concerned, prospective migrants and their family members about the dangers of trafficking. The bureau also maintains an online system for registering and resolving complaints from migrant workers.

“Awareness is key,” Jayasundara emphasised, “especially for at-risk youth and individuals seeking work abroad. Prevention begins with education.”