Negombo, Sri Lanka/09 April 2025: Organized crime groups are no longer confined by national borders and often exploit global networks to engage in activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling, money laundering, and cybercrime. Comprehensive national strategies that unite various sectors—law enforcement, the judiciary, civil society, and government agencies—are crucial for tackling organized crime effectively. By aligning resources, sharing intelligence, and adopting a common approach, nations can build stronger defences, close operational gaps, and enhance the efficiency of their crime-fighting efforts.
Recognizing this, the Government of Sri Lanka, with support of UNODC, hosted the first national workshop for the development of a comprehensive strategy to counter organized crime in Negombo. The consultation convened 24 key stakeholders from national ministries, law enforcement agencies, civil society, and academia.
The discussions marked a major milestone in shaping Sri Lanka’s response, rooted in cooperation, shared vision, and long-term strategic planning. UNODC introduced the Toolkit for Developing High-Impact Strategies to Address Organized Crime, structured around four pillars—Prevent, Pursue, Protect, and Promote Partnerships.
A strategic analysis of organized crime in Sri Lanka was also presented to the participants. This evidence-based overview offered insights into the scope and trends of organized crime in the country. Through intensive deliberations, participants provided multi-sectoral insights, identifying key gaps, vulnerabilities, and opportunities for action.
The workshop concluded with the formulation of national objectives and sub-objectives that integrate gender and human rights considerations, ensuring that responses are not only effective, but also inclusive and sustainable. Equally significant was the adoption of a roadmap for 2025, detailing clear steps and timelines for advancing the strategy.
The working group will now use these outputs to prepare for a second workshop, which will focus on defining the specific activities to be implemented.
This activity contributed to SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/
(Supported by the United Kingdom)
