Meeting with Foreign Diplomats on Land and Human Rights Issues in the Eastern Province
6 May 2026 | Trincomalee
A significant meeting was held on 6 May 2026 at Trinco Blu Hotel, Trincomalee, between representatives of civil society, affected communities, and the British and Canadian High Commissioners to Sri Lanka to discuss land rights, human rights, and related concerns affecting communities in the Eastern Province.
The British and Canadian High Commissioners, who were visiting the Eastern Province, have been meeting with civil society representatives, political leaders, and affected communities to gain a better understanding of the situation in the region. The meeting in Trincomalee provided an important platform for local civil society representatives and communities affected by land loss to raise their concerns directly with the diplomatic representatives.
The meeting was organized by the Vriddhi Network and brought together representatives of civil society organizations in Trincomalee District, members of the Eastern Province Land Recovery Network, civil society and human rights activists, and people affected by land loss.
Land and Human Rights Concerns
During the meeting, participants engaged in detailed discussions on land acquisition and land-related disputes in Trincomalee District, the challenges faced by communities affected by land loss, and broader human rights concerns in the Eastern Province.
Community representatives highlighted the difficulties faced by people who have lost access to their lands and emphasized the need for meaningful action to address unresolved land issues. The discussions also focused on human rights violations affecting communities across the Eastern Province.
At the conclusion of the meeting, representatives of the Eastern Province Land Recovery Network submitted a petition to the British and Canadian High Commissioners calling for the release and return of lands that had been taken from communities by state authorities.
Affected community members also appealed to the diplomats to engage with the Government of Sri Lanka and encourage measures to facilitate the return of lands to their rightful communities.
Appeal for Justice and a Political Solution
In addition, Kandumani Lavakusarasah, Coordinator of the Northern and Eastern Social Movement, together with Deputy Coordinator Alakurasan Mathan, submitted a separate petition seeking justice and a political solution for affected communities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
The submission highlighted the broader concerns of affected communities and called for continued attention to issues of justice, human rights, and political resolution.
The British and Canadian High Commissioners indicated their willingness to engage with the Government of Sri Lanka on these matters in the future.
The meeting therefore provided an important opportunity for affected communities and civil society representatives to directly communicate their concerns to international diplomatic representatives and to seek greater international engagement in addressing unresolved land, human rights, justice, and political issues in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
