The establishment of District Anti-Trafficking Forums emerged as a key focus at a stakeholder meeting of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF), held at the Ministry of Defence.

The meeting, chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Chairman of the NAHTTF, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), reviewed ongoing national measures to prevent and combat human trafficking and assessed progress under the National Strategic Action Plan 2026–2030 to Combat Human Trafficking (NSAP).

The proposed District Anti-Trafficking Forums are expected to strengthen coordination at the local level by bringing relevant stakeholders together to support prevention, victim protection, public awareness and coordinated action against trafficking.

Discussions on the forums formed part of wider efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka’s institutional response to human trafficking and ensure that national measures under the NSAP are effectively implemented at the district level.

The meeting also reviewed activities conducted to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and welcomed the newly appointed focal point from the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Participants highlighted the importance of financial intelligence in identifying and addressing financial activities associated with human trafficking, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
Engagement with international partners was also discussed, along with preparations for the annual evaluation of NSAP activities scheduled for November.

Representatives of NAHTTF member institutions shared updates and recommendations aimed at further strengthening prevention mechanisms, victim protection, public awareness and inter-agency coordination in the fight against human trafficking.