Colombo – Sri Lanka Border Risk Assessment Centre (BRAC) is the flagship initiative of the Sri Lanka Integrated Border Management (IBM) Project implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in close coordination with the Sri Lanka National Border Management Committee (NBMC). The BRAC was formally inaugurated today jointly by Hon. Karen Andrews, MP, Minister for Home Affairs of Australia, and Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, MP, Minister of Irrigation and State Minister of National Security, Disaster Management and Home Affairs of Sri Lanka. Several high-level officials from the Government, Australian High Commission, Canadian High Commission, and IOM were present at the event.

The BRAC aims to introduce a risk-based, intelligence-driven, coordinated approach to border management and will be the nerve centre of the Government and its partners for managing border risk matters related to both inbound and outbound travellers. It will help Sri Lanka to prevent cross border crimes while facilitating the smooth passage of bona fide passengers. The BRAC operates under an integrated model, bringing together analysts from more than ten state agencies involved in border control activities in Sri Lanka under one roof to holistically assess risks to the border environment. These agencies include the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Sri Lanka Customs, Criminal Investigation Department, Police Narcotic Bureau, Counter Terrorism Investigation Division, Ministry of Health (border health) and Intelligence Services. With the launch of BRAC, Sri Lanka introduces the application of risk assessment to border control, enabling these border agencies to pre-identify and intercept high-risk travellers across all stages of the traveller pathway –pre-arrival, on arrival and post-arrival. IOM supported the development of the custom-built solution for risk assessment and targeting-system utilized by the BRAC. This will enable the agencies involved for all inbound/outbound Advance Passenger Information (API) to be cross-checked against, a) national/ international watch lists; b) pre-identified risk criteria (risk profiles); to identify high-risk travellers at the earliest stage of the traveller pathway.

Early identification of high-risk travellers enables border agencies to appropriately mobilize their limited resources to mitigate such threats, thereby improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the border management process. BRAC solution was designed and developed in Sri Lanka using expertise in the country. This project is being implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in close consultation with the Sri Lanka National Border Management Committee (NBMC), and in line with the Cabinet-approved Sri Lanka Integrated Border Management Strategy (May 2018). Sri Lanka IBM project aligns with the Global Compact on Migration Objective 11 (Integrated Border Management Processes) and contributes towards Sustainable Development Goals 10, 16 and 17. BRAC will also improve Sri Lanka’s compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions 2178 (2014), 2396 (2017) and 2482 (2019), supporting the global efforts to combat transnational organized crime and terrorism.

Mr. Sarat Dash, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Sri Lanka and Maldives, noted that the design and implementation of a project of this technical complexity is a remarkable achievement and thanked the Government of Sri Lanka and Australia for trust and confidence placed on IOM. BRAC is undoubtedly setting a strong foundation for effective management of the Sri Lankan Border and is a significant step to address the rapidly changing border environment.

This project is funded by the Government of Australia, through the Department of Home Affairs, as part of its broader development support to the Government of Sri Lanka and is also supported by the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Programme of the Government of Canada.

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For more information please contact: Shantha Kulasekara, Programme Manager, IOM, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Tel: +94 11 532 53 00, Email: skulasekara@iom.int