IOM Sri Lanka and Maldives

19/10/2026

🚨 Not every job ad tells the full story.

➡️Launched today in .

The “What the Job Ad Isn’t Showing You” campaign exposes the risks of trafficking into cyber-scam centres and promotes safer overseas employment — a campaign by Freedom Collaborative, Capital Maharajah Group, Sri Lanka’s National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, UK International Development, the Bali Process Regional Support Office and IOM.

16/10/2026

🌍 Exploring Global Opportunities Through Informed Migration

IOM partnered with the International Career and Education Expo (iCEE 2026), jointly organized by ITN Sri Lanka , ITN Campus and JJL Overseas Education, engaging with over 1,000 prospective international students.

The expo provided an opportunity to connect with students and parents and share information on IOM's migration-related services, including:

✅ Document Verification Solutions Programme: Supporting Immigration New Zealand for over two decades, backed by ISO 9001:2015 certification.

✅ Migrant Health Assessments: For those pursuing migration to New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

✅ Public Awareness and Engagement: Sharing information on IOM’s services to support informed migration decisions.

Through partnerships and public engagement, IOM continues to promote informed choices and support safe, orderly, and regular migration.

14/10/2026

Shaping safer resettlement with communities

highlighted the vulnerabilities of families living in high-risk areas, highlighting the importance of informed, community-centred approaches to resettlement and long-term recovery.

With funding from the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, IOM, together with UNOPS Sri Lanka and UN-Habitat Sri Lanka and under the technical leadership of the National Building Research Institute - NBRI is supporting efforts to strengthen Sri Lanka’s climate resilience and disaster preparedness.

📍 Across five districts, IOM gathered insights from affected communities to help inform safer resettlement processes and ensure that recovery efforts reflect the needs and priorities of those affected.

Working with the Government of Sri Lanka and partners, IOM is supporting safer, community-centred recovery and resettlement solutions that contribute to long-term resilience in .

13/10/2026

There's truly no place like home.

Coming from a family of farmers 🧑🏽‍🌾 Nimani has witnessed firsthand how disasters and extreme weather events ️ are affecting both livelihoods and daily life. Despite these challenges, leaving her home is the last option.

Her story reflects a growing reality across Sri Lanka: climate disasters are forcing families to choose between the homes they love and their survival.

This , we are reminded that every person deserves a home that can withstand the hazards around it.

In 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka, solutions are already taking shape.

Supported by the European Union, IOM is working across 7 countries in South Asia 🌏 to bridge the gap between climate data and action on human mobility and displacement - helping build a safer and more resilient future for families like Nimani's💚

European Union in Sri Lanka and the Maldives

13/10/2026

Strengthening Partnerships for Effective Migration Governance 🇱🇰 🇮🇹

IOM facilitated the handover of official sample immigration documents, known as Specimen Immigration Documents, from the Embassy of Italy in Colombo 🇮🇹 to the Examiner of Questioned Documents at the Government Analyst's Department.

The documents will support authorities to:

✅ Verify and examine immigration documents more effectively
✅ Strengthen the skills and knowledge of relevant officials
✅ Improve the detection of fraudulent documents to support effective migration management.

The handover was attended by H.E. Damiano Francovigh, Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka, and his Deputy Mr. Alberto Arcidiacono. The documents were formally received by Mr. Sampath Kaluarachchi, Examiner of Questioned Documents at the Government Analyst's Department, together with representatives from IOM.

This collaboration highlights the value of international partnerships in strengthening expertise, enhancing cooperation, and supporting effective migration management.

🌐 IOM and the the Embassy of Italy in Colombo remain committed to working with the Government of Sri Lanka and partners to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration.

Italy in Colombo

10/10/2026

🌿 Every migration journey is different, but no one should face it alone.

This World Mental Health Day, we celebrate the strength and resilience of migrants everywhere and reaffirm that mental health and psychosocial support should be accessible to all.

In Sri Lanka, support is available through Government helplines:

📞 1926 | National Mental Health Helpline
📞 +94 11 2682535 | Sri Lanka Sumithrayo

07/10/2026

07/10/2026

🤝🏽Coordinated action. Lasting impact.

IOM brought together members of the diplomatic community, together with the Government of Sri Lanka and key members of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) to discuss the growing risks posed by cyber scam operations and their links to trafficking in persons.

🔎 The discussion highlighted emerging trends in Sri Lanka and across the region, the importance of identifying and protecting victims, and the need for stronger partnerships to prevent exploitation, strengthen investigations, and disrupt transnational criminal networks.

05/10/2026

🛫 Building Trust in Every Migration Journey: IOM Sri Lanka completes its 2026 ISO 9001:2015 surveillance audit 💫

The IOM Sri Lanka Document Verification Solutions Programme (DVSP) successfully completed its ISO 9001:2015 surveillance audit for 2026, reinforcing its commitment to quality, consistency and continuous improvement.

🔹 What did it assess?

The programme’s Quality Management System against the scope of the certification and service provision, the organization, leadership, policy, operational planning, external divisional support, competence, awareness, communication, documented information, performance evaluation and continuous improvement.
👉🏽This provides a strong external assurance of the programme’s robust quality framework, consistent processes, and commitment to delivering reliable, transparent, and client-focused immigration document verification services.

🔸 What's next?

In Sri Lanka, DVSP is positioned to progress toward its 2027 recertification audit and for the transition from the ISO 9001:2015 to the ISO 9001:2026 framework.

🔹 What does it mean?

This milestone reflects IOM's commitment to supporting Member States by providing reliable, internationally aligned document verification services.

🚀 By promoting trust, integrity and accountability in migration processes, this achievement reflects IOM's commitment to promoting safe, orderly and regular migration pathways for the benefit of all.

02/10/2026

🌍Ever wondered how a global agreement like the GCM actually comes to life?

Since August 2025, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) National Implementation Committee (NIC) has been leading the way to make safer, better and more organized.

Under the leadership of Dr. Sugath Yalegama, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and Chair of the National Implementation Committee - government agencies, UN agencies, and civil society 🤝 came together to develop Sri Lanka’s GCM National Implementation Plan (2026–2028)

✅ Through the UN Network on Migration’s Demand-Driven Facility (DDF), funded by the European Union 🇪🇺, countries can turn GCM commitments into national priorities, coordinated frameworks, and concrete action

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Sri Lanka