COLOMBO: US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission James R. Moore and Mohamed Abdi Ker Mohamud, Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration, officially presented police officials with a training curriculum designed to prevent, identify, and prosecute human trafficking offences in Sri Lanka.

Human trafficking is the third largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world. To help Sri Lanka counter this growing threat, the US government has provided $ 500,000 to support trafficking prevention programs, strengthen prosecution, and improve victim protection. Part of this funding was used by the Interantional Organization on Migration (IOM) to develop a new curriculum that has become part of standard police training across the country.

"The United States is pleased to support these efforts to eliminate human trafficking in Sri Lanka," said James R. Moore, US Deputy Chief of Mission. "By using this curriculum in police training, the Sri Lankan government has taken an important step in protecting its citizens. We congratulate law enforcement, officials and NGOs on the work they are doing and we encourage government officials to continue their efforts to eliminate human trafficking."

With US support, IOM conducted 13 workshops, training 500 police officers in identifying, investigating and prosecuting cases of trafficking. IOM also held two training programs for 70 governmental officials from the police, Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau, immigration and the Attorney General’s office.