Colombo, Sri Lanka, Oct. 19 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release:
Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Chairman of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF), highlighted Sri Lanka's ongoing efforts to prevent human trafficking and protect prospective migrant workers from fraudulent overseas employment offers. He made these remarks today (19 October) as the Chief Guest at the launch of the regional prevention campaign "What the Job Ad Isn't Showing You" in Colombo.
The campaign, launched by the Regional Support Office of the Bali Process in collaboration with the NAHTTF and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), aims to raise awareness of deceptive recruitment practices that may lead to human trafficking, forced criminality and exploitation, particularly in cyber-scam operations.
The Defence Secretary emphasised the importance of public awareness, safe labour migration, verification of overseas job offers and coordinated action by government institutions, law enforcement agencies and international partners. He also stressed that preventing human trafficking is a shared responsibility involving families, communities, recruitment agencies, digital platforms and employers.
Campaign materials in Sinhala and Tamil were unveiled alongside English-language resources as part of a wider regional initiative targeting vulnerable communities across South Asia and East Africa. The event brought together over 70 participants, including government officials, diplomatic representatives, international organisations and civil society representatives. News 1st of the Capital Maharaja Group provided live media coverage of the event.
The Defence Secretary expressed his sincere appreciation to the Regional Support Office of the Bali Process, Freedom Collaborative, UK International Development and IOM, as well as government institutions, diplomatic missions and all other stakeholders, for their valuable cooperation in advancing this initiative.
This campaign highlights the importance of continued national and regional collaboration in promoting safe migration, preventing human trafficking and safeguarding vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
