The Ministry of Health stated that the existing laws are sufficient to prevent organ trafficking for transplantation and address any related incidents.

Organ trade is the trading of human organs, tissues, or other body parts, usually for transplantation. According to the World Health Organisation, the organ trade is a commercial transplantation where there is a profit, or transplantations that occur outside of national medical systems.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni said that strict laws are already in place to regulate organ trafficking. 

“When an organ transplant takes place, several factors are considered, such as ensuring that the donor and recipient are relatives. There are both local and international laws governing this process. Organ trafficking does not occur in the government sector, and such incidents have been minimised in the private sector as well. If any cases of organ trafficking arise, the existing laws are sufficient to address them,” he said.

Organ trafficking has become a growing concern in Sri Lanka, particularly affecting marginalised communities such as estate workers and low-income families. Certain vulnerable groups are often lured by promises of quick money, unaware of the long-term health risks and legal consequences, ultimately falling victim to organ trafficking. Reports suggest that some individuals are pressured or deceived into selling their organs – often for far less than their true value – while middlemen and traffickers reap higher profit.