Seventeen years after the end of Sri Lanka's devastating armed conflict, thousands of families in the Northern and Eastern provinces continue to wait for the return of their privately owned lands — lands that remain occupied or controlled by the military and state authorities. Civil society groups, community leaders, and human rights advocates are now intensifying pressure on the government to honour its long-standing promises and accelerate the release of these civilian-owned properties without further delay.
A Promise Long Overdue
When the armed conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended in May 2009, displaced civilians were assured that their lands would be returned once security conditions normalized. For many families, that promise has remained unfulfilled for nearly two decades. Large tracts of privately owned agricultural land, residential plots, and community spaces across the North and East continue to be held under military occupation or classified under High Security Zones (HSZs), leaving original landowners unable to return, rebuild, or reclaim their livelihoods.
Advocacy groups argue that the continued occupation of civilian land is not only a violation of property rights but also a major obstacle to post-war reconciliation, economic recovery, and the restoration of dignity for affected Tamil and Muslim communities in the region.
Scale of the Problem
The issue is not a minor administrative oversight. Thousands of acres across districts including Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa remain inaccessible to their rightful owners. Families who were displaced during the war and have since attempted to return home have found their land either still fenced off by the military, converted for other uses, or caught in bureaucratic limbo with no clear timeline for release.
In some cases, entire villages remain off-limits. Former residents have been forced to live in temporary shelters or with relatives for years, unable to farm their land, access their homes, or plan for the future. The psychological and economic toll on these communities has been immense, with many families falling deeper into poverty as a direct result of their displacement from productive agricultural land.
Government Commitments Under Scrutiny
The current government, like several administrations before it, has made public commitments to address the land issue in the North and East. Officials have announced phased release programs, pledged to review High Security Zone designations, and spoken about the importance of reconciliation and resettlement. However, critics say that actual progress on the ground has been frustratingly slow and inconsistent.
Civil society organizations and affected community representatives are urging the government to move beyond rhetoric and implement concrete, time-bound action plans for land release. They are calling for transparent processes that involve affected communities, independent oversight mechanisms, and clear accountability for delays or non-compliance.
Human rights bodies have also weighed in, noting that the continued occupation of civilian land undermines Sri Lanka's stated commitments to post-war reconciliation and transitional justice. International observers, including United Nations agencies and foreign governments engaged in Sri Lanka's reconciliation process, have repeatedly flagged land rights as a critical unresolved issue.
Impact on Communities and Reconciliation
Beyond the immediate economic hardship, the failure to return civilian lands carries deep symbolic weight. For Tamil and Muslim communities in the North and East, land is not merely property — it represents identity, heritage, and belonging. The continued military presence on civilian land is widely perceived as a sign that the state does not fully trust or respect these communities, making genuine reconciliation significantly harder to achieve.
Community leaders point out that sustainable peace cannot be built while fundamental grievances remain unaddressed. Returning land to its rightful owners is seen as one of the most tangible and meaningful steps the government can take to demonstrate its commitment to reconciliation and equal citizenship for all Sri Lankans.
Calls for Immediate Action
Advocates are calling on the government to establish a clear and enforceable deadline for completing the land release process in the North and East. They are also urging authorities to provide adequate compensation for losses incurred during the years of displacement and to ensure that returned land is in a usable condition, with access to basic infrastructure restored.
Additionally, there are calls for the formal degazettement of High Security Zones that no longer serve a legitimate security purpose, as well as for an end to new land acquisitions in the region that further displace already vulnerable communities.
Conclusion
The land issue in Sri Lanka's North and East remains one of the most pressing unresolved legacies of the country's three-decade civil war. With communities continuing to suffer the consequences of displacement and dispossession, the government faces a critical test of its commitment to reconciliation, justice, and the rule of law. Honouring its promises on civilian land release is not just a legal obligation — it is a moral imperative that can no longer be deferred.