Convention of Land-Dispossessed People in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka
In the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, residential lands, livelihood resources, and places of religious worship belonging to the people have been acquired through seven categories of state mechanisms.
The people who have lost their lands have been striving for many years to reclaim them. However, up to now, their lands have not been released back to them.
In this context, today (23.04.2026), people from the districts of Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara in the Eastern Province who have lost their lands gathered at the Sarvodaya Hall in Batticaloa. During this meeting, they presented the land-related issues they are facing and strongly urged the Government of Sri Lanka to return their lands.
The Letter:
To: His Excellency the President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Your Excellency,
Request for the Return of Housing, Livelihoods, and Cultural Rights of Land-Dispossessed People in the Eastern Province.
We, the people who have lost our residential lands, livelihoods, and cultural identities in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka—namely in the districts of Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara—respectfully submit this appeal with the aim of reclaiming our fundamental rights.
On 23 March 2026, we initiated a public awareness campaign titled “Land Week” in Trincomalee. Over the course of a week, awareness programs and advocacy efforts were carried out throughout the Eastern Province. As a culmination of these activities, on 23 April 2026, landowners, affected communities, civil society organizations, women’s networks, and regional land rights groups gathered at the Sarvodaya Assembly Hall in Batticaloa and jointly present this appeal to you.
Even after the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, a large number of people continue to face difficulties in obtaining legal documentation for their own lands. Furthermore, through various administrative actions by the state, as well as interventions by individuals and institutions, residential lands, livelihood resources, and religious and cultural sites have been taken over—both legally and unlawfully—which is a matter of grave concern.
In particular, we note that lands have been acquired under the following categories:
Archaeological sites
High-security zones
Forest reserves
Sacred lands / Religious land
Wildlife conservation areas
Development projects
Tourism zones
These actions have, in many instances, resulted in severe consequences such as displacement, poverty, loss of livelihoods, and erosion of social identity.
In our efforts to reclaim our lands, we have undertaken various democratic and legal measures.
These include discussions with government officials, meetings with political representatives, peaceful protests, requests for information under the Right to Information Act, and engagement with the international community. However, to date, we have not received a comprehensive and lasting solution.
Your Excellency,
As the Head of State of Sri Lanka, we believe that you bear the responsibility to address the just demands of those who have lost their lands due to the conflict.
Therefore, our humble requests are as follows:
Identify the lands of displaced people and take prompt action to return them
Take steps to provide legal documentation for lands where people have been residing for many years without formal deeds
Conduct independent investigations into land acquisitions and take necessary action to release lands to the rightful owners
Implement livelihood recovery and rehabilitation programs for those who have lost their lands
Ensure the protection of religious and cultural rights
We wish to live with dignity, security, and our identity on our own lands. We respectfully request that you to consider our appeal with compassion and to take appropriate measures to uphold justice and equality.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Land-Dispossessed People
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
23 April 2026