[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

SRI LANKA (Tier 2) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Sri Lanka does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Sri Lanka remained on Tier 2. These efforts included increasing prosecutions and convictions of traffickers and cooperating with foreign officials on human trafficking investigations. The government identified more victims and supported the repatriation of Sri Lankans abroad. The government also opened its new shelter to support victims of crime, including trafficking victims. The government reformed some restrictive migration policies that had increased vulnerabilities of female migrants to trafficking. The government initiated criminal investigations of recruitment agencies allegedly responsible for facilitating trafficking and canceled licenses and blacklisted more agencies; it also expanded regulation of subagents known to charge high fees and increase migrant vulnerability. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. Credible reports of official complicity continued to impede the government’s efforts to carry out anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts. Sentences for convicted traffickers remained lenient. The government may have inappropriately penalized some trafficking victims for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked and did not maintain a consistent victim-centered approach to anti-trafficking efforts.

Prioritized Recommendations

Increase efforts to investigate and prosecute suspected traffickers, including labor traffickers and officials allegedly complicit in trafficking, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.

Increase efforts to proactively identify trafficking victims, including among undocumented migrant workers abroad and women in commercial sex.

Improve the quality and accessibility of victim services, ensure shelter and specialized services are available for all identified victims, and provide support to victims who participate in trials against their traffickers.

Increase monitoring of licensed recruitment agencies and regulation of subagents, referring allegations of criminal violations to law enforcement.

Promote safe and legal migration, ensure migration regulations do not discriminate based on gender, and increase awareness among prospective migrants of the steps necessary for safe migration and resources available abroad.

Eliminate all recruitment fees charged by labor recruiters to workers.

Ensure victims are not inappropriately penalized solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked, including through increased training of law enforcement and the judiciary.

Increase efforts to address child sex tourism, including proactive identification of victims and investigation of complicit establishments.

Formalize the domestic work sector and increase oversight of working conditions.

Provide sufficient resources for labor inspectors and increase identification of labor trafficking and exploitation.

Increase training for police, prosecutors, judges, immigration officials, and service providers on human trafficking and victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches.