Special unit established at BIA to combat human trafficking

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara opening the Safe Migration Promotion Unit at BIA on Monday

Sri Lanka has established a Safe Migration Promotion Unit (SMPU) at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake to combat human trafficking, a statement from Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry said.
The unit was established on the instructions given by the Select Committee of Parliament to look into and report to parliament its recommendations to ensure gender equity and equality with special emphasis on looking into gender-based discriminations and violations of women’s rights in Sri Lanka, the ministry statement said.

Established with the goal of preventing Sri Lankans from travelling abroad on tourist visas and from falling prey to human trafficking and to offer comprehensive guidance to Sri Lankan migrant workers, the unit will prioritise its focus on individuals who mainly travel to Malaysia, Oman, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi on tourist visas.

The SMPU will be in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the airport premises. 
Operating under the leadership of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF), which falls under the Ministry of Defense, SPMU comprises officers from various agencies, including the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and State Intelligence Service (SIS).