Sri Lanka has retained its Tier 2 ranking in the United States Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for the fifth consecutive year, the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) said.
The task force said the ranking reflects continued government efforts on victim protection, law enforcement, prevention and coordination among state institutions.
It pointed to the launch of the National Strategic Action Plan to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking 2026-2030, and to the expansion of District Anti-Trafficking Forums to improve the identification and referral of victims.
Other steps include training for frontline officers, closer cooperation with international partners and measures against online exploitation, technology-facilitated recruitment and forced criminal activity.
Under the US classification, Tier 2 means a country does not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The task force, chaired by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, said Sri Lanka remains committed to strengthening investigations, prosecutions and victim protection.