23 December 2025 | Trincomalee

The AHAM Humanitarian Resource Center (AHRC) and the People’s Collective for Climate Justice (PCCJ) jointly initiated the Eastern Provincial Land Network under the theme “Let Us Unite for Land”, bringing together community leaders representing people affected by land grabbing and land-related challenges across the Eastern Province.

The network was formally launched in Trincomalee on Sunday, 21 December 2025, with the participation of community-level leaders from Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara Districts.

The establishment of the network represents an effort to create a collective platform through which communities affected by land grabbing can share their experiences, discuss common challenges, and strengthen their voices in advocating for land rights and appropriate solutions to land-related disputes.

A Provincial Platform for Land Rights

The Eastern Provincial Land Network has been established not only to address land-grabbing concerns in Trincomalee District, but also to provide a collective platform for communities across all three districts of the Eastern Province that face land-related challenges.

Through the network, community representatives from different districts will have an opportunity to come together, exchange experiences, identify common concerns, and work collectively towards addressing land-related issues affecting their communities.

The initiative is based on the shared vision of “Let Us Unite for Land,” emphasizing solidarity and collective action among communities facing land-related challenges.

First Discussion Held in Trincomalee

The first discussion of the newly established network was held in Trincomalee on 21 December 2025.

The meeting brought together civil society activists working across the Eastern Province as well as community leaders representing populations affected by land grabbing. Participants actively engaged in discussions on the challenges faced by affected communities and the importance of strengthening collective advocacy on land rights.

The participation of representatives from different districts provided an important opportunity to connect local experiences and concerns and to explore ways of working together at the provincial level.

Continuing Dialogue Across the Eastern Province

As part of the network's planned activities, discussions will be conducted each month, rotating among the districts of Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara.

This approach is intended to ensure that communities from different parts of the Eastern Province have opportunities to participate directly in the network's discussions and contribute their experiences and perspectives.

The regular district-level discussions will also provide a continuing platform for community leaders and civil society actors to exchange information, discuss emerging land-related concerns, and strengthen cooperation.

Strengthening Community Voices on Land

The establishment of the Eastern Provincial Land Network marks an important step towards strengthening collective community engagement on land rights and land-related challenges in the Eastern Province.

By bringing together leaders from land-affected communities and civil society activists, AHRC and PCCJ seek to support a stronger and more coordinated community voice on issues affecting land, livelihoods, and the rights of local populations.

The network provides a space for communities to move beyond addressing land issues in isolation and to build solidarity around shared concerns across district boundaries.

AHRC and PCCJ remain committed to supporting community-led dialogue, strengthening collective advocacy, and promoting informed and peaceful approaches to addressing land-related challenges across the Eastern Province.

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