Militarisation and Demilitarisation in the North-East

## What this dossier holds This dossier compiles evidence documenting the extensive and sustained presence of the Sri Lankan military in the Tamil-majority North-East, particularly following the 2009 conflict. It includes reports on land occupation, surveillance, demographic engineering, and economic interference, alongside analyses of military expenditures and personnel strength. ## Why it matters Militarisation significantly impedes reconciliation, obstructs justice, and undermines fundamental rights in the North-East. It perpetuates a climate of fear, prevents normalisation of civilian life, and facilitates state-led Sinhalisation efforts, thereby destabilizing long-term peace and self-determination prospects for Tamils. ## What the strongest citations establish Tier-A citations from the UN Panel of Experts, OISL, ICG, Amnesty International, and Oakland Institute consistently establish patterns of large-scale military presence, land appropriation by the military, and a securitized state apparatus that continues to suppress dissent and interfere with civilian life. These sources, complemented by detailed field research from ACPR, Adayaalam, and PEARL, confirm that post-war 'peace' has been characterized by increased rather than decreased military control and Sinhalisation efforts. SIPRI and IISS provide authoritative data on the military's scale and scope. ## Open Questions Key open questions include the precise timeline and conditions under which genuine demilitarisation might occur, the efficacy of international pressure in achieving military withdrawal, and the long-term impacts of militarisation on social cohesion and inter-ethnic relations.

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