Welcome to IOM Sri Lanka
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) works to encourage social and economic development through migration, and remains committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society.
IOM in Sri Lanka works in close partnership with national and local government institutions, non-governmental agencies, grass-roots, community organizations and the donor community, to assist national entities to address pressing and complex challenges in migration management, to respond to the needs created by humanitarian emergencies in the country and to ensure improved living conditions for vulnerable communities.
Latest News and Events
IOM Sri Lanka Briefing Note January 2011
Sri Lanka Health Project Info Fact Sheet GENEVA
Norway Backs IOM Reintegration of Former Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka –
Norway has contributedNOK 3 million (USD 528,000) (Rs. 57 million) to IOM to support thesocio-economic reintegration of former Tamil Tiger (LTTE) cadres in Sri Lanka.
“We need to help these people to return home and start new lives. The IOM programme will provide them with a foundation from which they can start new livelihoods and rebuild their lives,” said Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Hilde Haraldstad
Sri Lanka Completes National Research Agenda on Health and Social Status of Migrants –
The report, commissioned by the Inter-Ministerial Task force on Migration Health, with technical and financial support from IOM, addresses the health and social status of internal, out-bound, in-bound migrants, and the impact of migration on the families that they leave behind.
IOM and the Australian Government Hand Over Fish Market, Storage Facility to Jaffna Fishing Community
IOM, in close cooperation with Australia’s Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Sri Lankan central and local government authorities, will today hand over a large auction centre and multi-purpose storage facility to the Mathagal Rural Fishermen Organization (MRFO) in the Sandilipay DS Division of Jaffna District.
IOM “Credit Fair” Will Improve Access to Credit in Economically Depressed Eastern Sri Lanka
IOM will host a two-day “Credit Fair” this weekend in the eastern Sri Lankan town of Ampara that will bring together over 4,000 beneficiaries of its European Union (EU)-funded Community Livelihood Support Programme (CLSP) and ten credit institutions to discuss access to credit.
As part of the CLSP, IOM has been providing training on Access to Credit (A2C) in Ampara District, which was badly affected by the 2004 tsunami and years of civil unrest, to educate the population on how to take advantage of formal credit facilities.
While there are a number of institutions offering credit to small businesses and individuals in Ampara, there is relatively poor understanding of how they work, leading people to use informal credit networks that often charge much higher rates, according to IOM Sri Lanka Chief of Mission Richard Danziger,
“There are a number of low interest loan schemes tailored to the needs of small businesses offered by banks and other lending institutions in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, too many people remain unaware of this or misunderstand how these loans work,” he says.
IOM, Foreign Employment Ministry Will Host Workshop on Recruitment Monitoring
IOM will organize a workshop on labour migration research and foreign employment recruitment monitoring at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo on Monday, 14th March.
The event, which will be chaired by Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare (MFEPW), Col. Nishanka Wijeratne, will focus on the issue of foreign recruitment monitoring and will share the findings of a recent IOM study: Foreign Labour Migration Prospects for Sri Lanka.
“Sri Lankan migrant workers are the highest foreign exchange earners for Sri Lanka. Safeguarding their rights and providing adequate welfare and protection for them and their family members is a priority of the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare and IOM intends to support them in achieving these goals,” says IOM Sri Lanka Chief of Mission Richard Danziger.
IOM Hosts Judicial Colloquium on Prevention of Trafficking in Persons
The Sri Lanka Judges Training Institute, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has organized a two-day residential programme on combating human trafficking for a group of 50 High Court judges and magistrates from across Sri Lanka.
The programme, which was funded by the United States Government Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons was designed to sensitize judges on general characteristics of human trafficking, national and international legislation related to trafficking, and the protection of victims of trafficking.
According to Richard Danziger, Chief of Mission for IOM in Sri Lanka, “The training of judges and magistrates is a crucial element in combating human trafficking. It is therefore gratifying to see the engagement of the judiciary in Sri Lanka and their desire to increase the number of prosecutions for this crime.”
The programme included modules on local and international law, human rights, differences between trafficking and smuggling, and the provision of medical care for traumatized victims.
US, UN Fund IOM Sri Lanka Flood Relief
As Sri Lanka struggles to cope with the effects of its second wave of torrential monsoon rains in two months, the United Nations Central Emergency Fund (CERF) and USAID have contributed US$ 950,000 to IOM’s flood relief effort.
According to Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre (DMC), the floods in the country’s Eastern, Central and Northern provinces are the worst in 100 years, with 15 districts and 1.2 million people affected. Some 17,000 houses have been destroyed or damaged and some 67,500 families are now living in 686 displacement camps.
IOM will today take delivery of a USAID consignment of 600 rolls of plastic sheeting for 6,000 displaced families and 1,000 family mosquito nets flown in from Dubai.
The donation, which is part of USAID’s US$ 245,250 contribution to IOM’s US$ 8.36 million initial appeal for funds, will be trucked to affected areas and distributed in close cooperation with the local authorities next week.
Floods Displace 1.1 Million in Sri Lanka, IOM Asked to Coordinate Shelter Cluster Response
As floodwaters inundate the Eastern provinces of Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, as well as other areas in Sri Lanka, the UN and the government have asked IOM to coordinate the work of aid agencies providing emergency shelter and essential non-food relief items to over 1.1 million displaced people.
According to the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre (DMC) some 1,106,555 people have been affected by the floods in Eastern and Northern areas. Over 58,000 are now sheltering in displacement camps in Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara.
Following a request from the DMC, IOM has also agreed to provide free transport and logistics for humanitarian supplies for flood victims donated by other aid agencies.
IOM Backs Sri Lankan Flood Response in Eastern District
IOM is supporting the Sri Lankan Government’s Disaster Management Committee in responding to the humanitarian needs of over 330,000 flood-affected residents in Ampara district.
Over 28,000 people are now internally displaced and living in 48 schools functioning as IDP camps. Another 26,800 people are reportedly sheltering with family members, friends and neighbours after being driven from their homes by the floods.
Following a request from the local authorities, IOM is targeting an estimated 20,000 people in camps in the four worst affected sub-districts. IOM staff from Ampara, Batticaloa and other sub-offices will carry out needs assessments in the camps this week.
Immediate action will include the bulk purchase of milk for young children in the camps. Subject to availability, this will come from community-run Milk Chilling Centres built and equipped by IOM under an EU-funded Community Livelihood Support Programme in the area.