Sri Lanka's rights commission says militarisation persists in the Tamil North and East
In one line: A report by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka says "militarization remains a persistent feature of governance and land use" in the Tamil-majority North and East, 17 years after the war.
Published 18 October 2026. Written by Pratidin from the reports linked at the end; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has released a report on the human rights situation in the Tamil-majority Northern and Eastern Provinces, 17 years after the civil war ended. It says 'militarization remains a persistent feature of governance and land use' there. The military runs farms and pre-schools, mainly through the Civil Security Department. The report calls the military's occupation of private land in Valikamam North since the 1990s 'one of the most egregious and longstanding instances' of its kind, and says Sri Lanka has no comprehensive security sector reform plan.
The report covers ten areas, including disappearances, mass graves, memorialisation, surveillance, land, religious freedom and the expulsion of about 75,000 Northern Muslims by the LTTE in 1990. At the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna more than 580 skeletal remains have been recovered, but the Commission found no standard procedure for such investigations and no affordable DNA analysis. It recommends speeding up the return of land, ending the use of national security as a blanket justification for acquisition, withdrawing the military from agriculture and education, stopping the use of anti-terror laws against memorial events, independent funding for the Office on Missing Persons and a voluntary DNA bank.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who also holds the Defence portfolio, ordered faster release of war-era land in August 2026. Defence Ministry spokesman Brigadier Franklin Joseph said over 90% of military-held land has been returned, with delays caused by unknown owners or missing documents. Tamil MP Thurairasa Ravikaran disputed this, saying large areas remain under military, archaeology and wildlife department control. The HRCSL, set up under Act No. 21 of 1996, cannot enforce its own recommendations. For India, the findings revive its long-standing call for full implementation of the 13th Amendment, which followed the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord.
Prelims facts
- The HRCSL's October 2026 report says militarisation remains a persistent feature of governance and land use in Sri Lanka's Northern and Eastern Provinces.
- More than 580 skeletal remains have been recovered from the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna.
- Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry says over 90% of military-held land has been returned; Tamil MPs dispute the figure.
- The HRCSL was created by Act No. 21 of 1996 and cannot enforce its own recommendations.
- The 13th Amendment, which followed the July 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, created nine provincial councils, but land and police powers were never fully devolved.
Quick recall
- Which Act created the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka?
- The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act No. 21 of 1996.
- How many areas of concern does the HRCSL's October 2026 report on the North and East cover?
- Ten.
- How many skeletal remains have been recovered from the Chemmani mass grave?
- More than 580.
- Where is Chemmani?
- In Jaffna, Northern Province.
- Through which body does Sri Lanka's military run farms and pre-schools in the North and East?
- The Civil Security Department.
- How many Northern Muslims did the LTTE expel in 1990?
- About 75,000.
- Who signed the Indo-Lanka Accord in July 1987?
- Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President J.R. Jayewardene.
- How many provincial councils did the 13th Amendment create?
- Nine, one for each province.
Prelims practice question
The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka, often raised by India, is associated with:
- Abolition of the executive presidency
- Creation of provincial councils following the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord
- Recognition of Tamil as the sole official language
- Establishment of the Office on Missing Persons
Show answer
Answer: (b) Creation of provincial councils following the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord. The 13th Amendment followed the Indo-Lanka Accord signed in July 1987 by Rajiv Gandhi and J.R. Jayewardene and created nine provincial councils to devolve power.
Use this in UPSC Mains: previous-year questions
Recurring theme: India-Sri Lanka relations, Tamil reconciliation and the role of human rights institutions
In respect of India-Sri Lanka relations, discuss how domestic factors influence foreign policy.
How to use thisUse the report to show why the Tamil issue keeps shaping India's Sri Lanka policy through the demand for devolution.
- Sri Lanka's rights commission said in October 2026 that militarisation persists in the Tamil North and East, 17 years after the war.
- India has long urged full implementation of the 13th Amendment, from the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord; land and police powers remain undevolved.
- How to use this
Use the HRCSL as a comparative example of a human rights body whose findings lack binding force.
- Sri Lanka's HRCSL, created by Act No. 21 of 1996, has no power to enforce its own decisions.
- Its 2026 report on military-held land is disputed by the government, which says over 90% has been returned.
Mains practice question
Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission reports that militarisation persists in the Tamil North and East seventeen years after the civil war. Discuss how this affects post-war reconciliation and India's interests, and suggest India's approach. (150 words)
Model answer
The HRCSL's October 2026 report says "militarization remains a persistent feature of governance and land use" in Sri Lanka's Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Effect on reconciliation
- The military runs farms and pre-schools; private land in Valikamam North has been held since the 1990s.
- No security sector reform plan exists; anti-terror laws are used against memorial events.
- Over 580 remains at Chemmani show disappearances remain unresolved.
India's interests
- Tamil welfare affects Tamil Nadu and India's regional standing.
- Devolution under the 13th Amendment, from the 1987 Accord, remains unfinished.
India's approach
- Back faster land return; Colombo says over 90% is returned, but Tamil MPs dispute this.
- Press for land and police powers to provincial councils.
- Fund livelihoods, housing and DNA capacity in the North and East.
Quiet, development-led diplomacy can help Sri Lanka turn peace into reconciliation.
The basics
Why this matters
Seventeen years after Sri Lanka's civil war ended in 2009, the country's own Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) says the military still shapes daily life in the Tamil-majority Northern and Eastern Provinces. For India, which shares close ethnic, cultural and security ties with the Tamils of Sri Lanka and has long pressed for devolution of power, this is a live neighbourhood issue for GS2.
Who is the HRCSL?
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka was created by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act No. 21 of 1996 and set up in March 1997. It investigates complaints of rights violations by executive and administrative action, advises the government on laws, and monitors places of detention. Its recommendations cannot be enforced by the Commission itself. See Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.
- 1Disappearances and mass gravesFate of thousands still unknown; over 580 skeletal remains at Chemmani
- 2Militarisation and surveillanceArmy in farms and pre-schools; protesters watched and visited
- 3LandMilitary occupation of private land, as in Valikamam North
- 4Memorialisation and religionAnti-terror laws used against memorial events; obstruction of worship
- 51990 expulsion of Northern MuslimsAbout 75,000 expelled by the LTTE
- 6Development and livelihoodsResidents cut off from traditional livelihoods
What militarisation means here
Militarisation is the spread of the armed forces into civilian life beyond security. The report says the military runs farms and pre-schools through the Civil Security Department. It says Sri Lanka lacks a comprehensive security sector reform plan to shrink this role. Read Militarisation and post-war reconciliation.
- Over 90% of land once held by the military has been returned (Ministry of Defence spokesman)
- Remaining cases stuck over unknown owners or missing documents
- Valikamam North held since the 1990s, 'one of the most egregious' occupations
- Huge swathes still under military, archaeology and wildlife departments
India's angle
India and Sri Lanka signed the Indo-Lanka Accord in July 1987, leading to Sri Lanka's 13th Amendment, which created provincial councils. India has repeatedly urged Colombo to implement it fully. Read The 13th Amendment and the Indo-Lanka Accord.
- July 1987Indo-Lanka Accord signed; 13th Amendment follows
- 1990LTTE expels about 75,000 Muslims from the North
- 1996Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act No. 21 passed
- 2009Civil war ends
- October 2026HRCSL report on the Northern and Eastern Provinces released
The report's demands on disappearances and DNA testing are explained in Enforced disappearances and the Chemmani mass grave.
Go deeper
Why it matters for UPSC
It touches India-Sri Lanka relations, Tamil reconciliation, the 13th Amendment and the role of national human rights institutions (GS2). Prelims can test the Accord, the HRCSL and places like Mullaitivu and Jaffna.
The core idea
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka examined ten areas. Its central finding is about Militarisation and post-war reconciliation: the army's role in land, farming and education sets the region apart and slows reconciliation. It also found gaps in handling Enforced disappearances and the Chemmani mass grave. For India, the report revives the unfinished devolution agenda of The 13th Amendment and the Indo-Lanka Accord.
Numbers and dates to remember
- 10 areas of concern
- Over 580 skeletal remains found at the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna
- About 75,000 Northern Muslims expelled by the LTTE in 1990
- Over 90% of military-held land returned, says the Defence Ministry spokesman
- Act No. 21 of 1996 created the HRCSL
- July 1987: Indo-Lanka Accord, signed by Rajiv Gandhi and J.R. Jayewardene
Where to go next
- Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka: the body behind the report
- Militarisation and post-war reconciliation: the central finding
- Enforced disappearances and the Chemmani mass grave: the hardest legacy
- The 13th Amendment and the Indo-Lanka Accord: India's stake
Go deeper: can reconciliation coexist with a military footprint?
The Commission's case. The report says the military's role in civilian affairs and commerce sets the North and East apart from the rest of the country and hinders reconciliation. It asks the state to stop using national security as a blanket justification for land acquisition, especially where it disproportionately affects minorities, to withdraw the military from agriculture and education, and to stop using anti-terrorism laws against memorial events. These findings are the core of Militarisation and post-war reconciliation.
The government's answer. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who also holds the Defence portfolio, ordered security forces in August 2026 to speed up the return of land no longer needed for security. The Defence Ministry spokesman, Brigadier Franklin Joseph, said over 90% of military-held land has been returned and that many remaining cases involve unknown owners or no proof of ownership.
The Tamil response. Thurairasa Ravikaran, an Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi MP from Mullaitivu, said families who fled the war cannot be expected to keep documents, and that "huge swathes of people's land remain under military control even today".
Limits of the messenger. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka cannot enforce its own recommendations, so impact depends on political will. Its call for a voluntary DNA bank and independent funding for the Office on Missing Persons, discussed in Enforced disappearances and the Chemmani mass grave, tests that will.
India's interest. Stability and dignity for Tamils in the North and East affect Tamil Nadu's politics, fishermen's issues and India's regional standing. India's long-standing call for full implementation of The 13th Amendment and the Indo-Lanka Accord gives it a constructive, non-intrusive way to engage.
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
The body behind the report, and the limits of its power.
In one line: The HRCSL is Sri Lanka's national human rights institution, set up under Act No. 21 of 1996.
Set-up and functions
The Commission was established in March 1997 and began functioning that July. It:
- investigates complaints of rights violations caused by executive and administrative action;
- reviews laws and procedures for conformity with fundamental rights and international norms;
- advises the government and runs awareness work;
- monitors police stations and detention centres.
Anyone who arrests or detains a person under the Prevention of Terrorism Act or emergency regulations must inform the Commission within 48 hours.
Its limits
"The Commission has no power to enforce its own decisions." It reports findings to authorities and, where needed, the Attorney General. This is a common weakness of such bodies, including India's own human rights commissions.
Why it is in the news
Its October 2026 report examines the human rights situation in the Northern and Eastern Provinces across ten areas.
Where to go next
Militarisation and post-war reconciliation
The report's central finding and why it slows healing.
In one line: Post-war militarisation is the armed forces' continuing role in civilian life, land and the economy long after fighting has ended.
What the report found
- The military runs farms and pre-schools, mainly through the Civil Security Department, and local farmers say its produce is sold below market price.
- Private land in Valikamam North has been occupied since the 1990s.
- Protesters are photographed and later visited at home by police units.
- Sri Lanka has no comprehensive security sector reform plan to shrink the military's role.
Why it hinders reconciliation
Reconciliation needs trust between communities and the state. When soldiers control land and jobs in one region only, residents see an army of occupation rather than a national institution, and economic recovery stalls.
Where to go next
Enforced disappearances and the Chemmani mass grave
The war's hardest unresolved legacy.
In one line: Enforced disappearances, where people are taken by or with the backing of the state and never accounted for, are the war's most painful unresolved legacy.
The Chemmani mass grave
At Chemmani in Jaffna, more than 580 skeletal remains have been recovered. The HRCSL found no standard operating procedure for mass grave investigations and no affordable DNA analysis capacity, and recorded allegations that exhumation workers and families were intimidated.
What the Commission wants
- Amend the law on enforced disappearances so that widespread or systematic disappearance becomes an offence.
- Give the Office on Missing Persons independent funding.
- Create a voluntary DNA bank for families of the disappeared.
- Compile a full list of those who surrendered, were detained or were sent for rehabilitation at the end of the war.
Why it matters
Without identifying the dead and the missing, families cannot get justice or closure, and reconciliation remains incomplete.
Where to go next
The 13th Amendment and the Indo-Lanka Accord
India's stake in Tamil devolution.
In one line: The 13th Amendment to Sri Lanka's Constitution, which followed the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, created provincial councils to devolve power, but key powers were never fully handed over.
The Accord
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President J.R. Jayewardene signed the Indo-Lanka Accord in July 1987. It led to the 13th Amendment, which set up nine provincial councils, one for each province.
What was promised and what happened
- Full implementation would give provincial councils powers over land and police, along with education, health, agriculture and housing.
- Only education and health have been partly devolved.
- The amendment provided for a referendum on merging the Northern and Eastern Provinces, which was never held.
India's position
At the UN Human Rights Council in 2022, India's Permanent Representative said Colombo must respect Tamil rights by implementing the 13th Amendment. Land and police powers are exactly what the HRCSL's findings on military-held land bring back into focus.
Where to go next
Take the 18 October 2026 quiz: 30 Prelims-style questions with answers