IPS Leads National Consultation to Strengthen Sri Lanka’s Migration Governance Framework

Date: 13-14 October 2025

“Migration governance must be rooted in evidence, inclusivity, and institutional strength to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration,” emphasised Dr. Bilesha Weeraratne, Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS), during the opening session of the National Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on the Revised National Implementation Plan of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The National Multi-Stakeholder consultation was convened from 13-14 October 2025, by the Government of Sri Lanka with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). As the National Consultant, Dr. Bilesha Weeraratne facilitated and moderated the consultation, which brought together policymakers, UN agencies, civil society, academia, and development partners.

Consultation helped identify priority GCM objectives, policy gaps, and implementation challenges. Participants engaged in collaborative discussions to revise the National Implementation Plan, propose actionable goals, and strengthen mechanisms for coordination, data sharing, and institutional engagement. The sessions highlighted the importance of inclusive stakeholder participation and evidence-based policymaking in advancing Sri Lanka’s migration governance.

The consultation served as a platform to assess the progress of Sri Lanka’s GCM commitments and to revise the National Implementation Plan with clear goals, prioritised activities, lead institutions, and timelines. The discussions and expert insights helped evaluate and update Sri Lanka’s GCM implementation strategy for the 2025–2027 period.

The event was attended by local and international stakeholders, including key government policymakers and senior representatives from the UN network on migration.