Land: A tool weaponized to create an asymmetry of power in the North and East
Sri Lanka continues to experience deep ethnic divisions and has failed to address the root causes of the conflict. Unfortunately, the decades-long problem of land conflict has continued in the post-war setting, and new mechanisms of State intervention contribute to and exacerbate divisions that deter the reconciliation processes. Land has been used to create an asymmetry of power in the Northern and Eastern regions for several decades, and there is a growing trend of intrusive methods being employed in these regions, triggering fear amongst local communities. The cases captured in the tracker and many others highlight the role of the government, the state, private entities and others in land appropriation and conflict.
Land contestation is further intensified by non-state actors, particularly the role of Buddhist clergy. Recent events demonstrate instances where clergy have entered lands owned and used by minorities, and have uprooted, renamed and claimed land as ‘sacred areas’ or ‘Buddhist sites’. The ethnopolitical use of the term ‘national heritage’ contains wide implications for how the nation perceives identity. The increasing involvement of the Buddhist clergy in land conflicts often suggests a level of collusion with state actors, who assist the clergy in appropriating lands and providing protection through military and police personnel.
The use of legislation, especially against the backdrop of land appropriation that has altered the ethnic and religious composition in areas historically dominated by minorities, has been noted. There is evidence of State intervention by agents such as the Department of Archaeology, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, and the Department of Forest Conservation, among others. These agencies often enter lands, frequently without notice, to prevent access to the land and the use by its owners and occupants. The arbitrary and unpredictable nature of State agents’ intervention sparks fear within and among communities that have experienced decades of violence. It has also affected their ability to live on their lands and continue with their livelihood. Most recently, this was evident with the issuing of Gazette Notification No. 2430 under Section 4 of the Land Settlement Ordinance on the 28th of March 2025. The Gazette stated that lands in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, and Mullaitivu would be claimed as state land if owners failed to submit claims by 28th June. CPA and local politicians have raised this issue which resulted in the government promising to revoke the Gazette but at the time of writing no such revocation has taken place in terms of the law. On 12 June 2025, M. A. Sumanthiran filed a fundamental rights application SC FR 112/2025 in the Supreme Court challenging the Gazette. On 27 June 2025 the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka issued a stay order temporarily suspending the implementation of a Gazette notification issued under the Land Settlement Ordinance.
Even though State interventionist measures have evolved significantly over time, with both historical and contemporary tactics contributing to ongoing conflicts; earlier tactics of using heritage sites to obstruct locals’ access to their lands continue to be employed. The cases highlighted here display the impact of the expanding Sinhala-Buddhistisation agenda which often leads to dispossession and displacement, and an inability to restart livelihood, including economic activity. Frequently, the effects of lacking access to land are immense, leading to increasing levels of poverty and alienation.
The continued occupation of the military and state agents draws into question whether lands will be returned and validates the growing doubt amongst communities regarding State intentions behind such initiatives. Additionally, recent collaborations between the State and private corporations, in the North and East, exemplify the severe environmental and economic impacts residents face when development projects are conducted with poor oversight and limited regulatory provisions. The continued sand mining projects in Mannar, is one such example. In the backdrop of an economic and governance crisis, land issues capture the willingness to sacrifice the livelihoods of minority communities in the pursuit of foreign direct investment in the country. Furthermore, how state structures enable corporations to undermine land rights, degrade the environment, and extract resources disproportionately with significant implications for local communities has been highlighted.
References
https://www.cpalanka.org/the-intersectional-trends-of-land-conflicts-in-sri-lanka/
https://island.lk/govt-revokes-controversial-land-acquisition-gazette-following-protests/
Last updated – March 2026