The Sri Lankan military continues coordinated strategy employing large-scale community and social welfare programmes to infiltrate and dominate civilian infrastructure - particularly schools within the Tamil homeland. These operations disproportionately target Tamil-majority regions and implicitly subjugate civilian institutions. Many of these programmes are led by Sri Lankan army units implicated in war crimes.
Influence in Tamil schools
On 30 June 2025, the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Regiment distributed school supplies to students at Kristhuvakulam Government Mixed Tamil School, Cheddikulam, under the “Sahodarathwaye Manudama (Humanity of Brotherhood)” initiative.
Cheddikulam witnessed slaughter by the Sri Lankan army on 2 December 1984, when 52 Tamil men and boys were rounded up by soldiers and subsequently killed. Witnesses recount that the victims were brutally murdered, mutilated with knives, and run over by vehicles, marking one of the most heinous and earliest massacres of Tamil civilians by Sri Lankan state forces.
On 4 July 2025, under the “Clean Sri Lanka” national programme, 55 Infantry Division battalions, 7 Sri Lanka Light Infantry, 22 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, and 14 Sri Lanka National Guard conducted a series of environmental programmes across Kilinochchi and Pooneryn. Framed as the “Shrama (voluntary) clean campaign,” the events included lectures, tree planting, and area-cleaning activities at six civilian vocational training institutes, including the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority - Kilinochchi. A total of 885 soldiers participated, marking a significant military presence in educational spaces within the Tamil homeland.
The 55 Division has been named by the United Nations OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka and International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) as one of the key military units implicated in grave violations of international humanitarian law during the final phase of the 2009 Tamil genocide.
On 7 July 2025, the Regiment Special Forces Wing at SLAF Station Morawewa celebrated its 22nd anniversary with a donation of educational supplies to the Revatha Children’s Development Centre in Trincomalee, attended by the station’s Commanding Officer and personnel.
On 9 July 2025, troops from the 54th Infantry Division in Mannar conducted a dengue prevention campaign across 100 schools within the operational areas of 541 (Kalliadi), 542 (Manthottam), and 543 (Pesalai) infantry brigades, under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme. Meanwhile, the 56th Infantry Division covered 18 schools and one hospital in its operational area, Kokkilai. Additionally, the 59th Infantry Division in Mullaitivu partnered with the Ministry of Higher and Vocational Education to cover 79 schools. This coordinated effort reveals a deliberate military strategy to systematically infiltrate and assert control over educational institutions within Tamil communities.
During the 2009 Tamil genocide the 59th Infantry Division was implicated in enforced disappearances and grave human rights abuses reported by Human Rights Watch and international organisations. The division’s shelling of hospitals in southern Mullaitivu is further documented by the UN OHCHR investigation.
Likewise, on the same day, the Sri Lanka Navy conducted dengue prevention campaigns across Tamil schools in the North-East, including St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Tamil Mixed School in Thalaimannar, Government Tamil School in Vellakulam, Naruvilikulam School in Vankalai, St. Joseph's Maha Vidyalayam in Mannar, Panama Maha Vidyalayam, Methodist Tamil Maha Vidyalayam in Pottuvil, and MHM Ashraff College in Sainthamaruthu.
Between 13 and 16 July 2025, the Sri Lanka Navy conducted mobile dental clinics in Amparai District schools, including Urani Saraswathy Maha Vidyalayam in Pottuvil - as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations. Led by the Sri Lanka Navy Dental Service, in collaboration with the Navy Seva Vanitha Unit and health and corporate partners, the clinics provided dental screenings, treatments, and oral hygiene education to approximately 340 schoolchildren.
Despite the military’s long-standing and internationally recognised record of grave human rights abuses, uniformed Sri Lankan soldiers continue to maintain a regular presence in Tamil schools.
Military infrastructure expansion
On 12 July 2025, the Sri Lankan Navy inaugurated a newly constructed Outpatient Department (OPD) building at the Regional Hospital in Nainativu Islet, Jaffna. Funded by the German Red Cross and constructed under the supervision of the Northern Naval Command, the project reflects the military’s continuous role in critical infrastructure, advancing militarisation in the Tamil homeland under the pretext of development through its technical and industrial involvement. The event was attended by Sri Lankan Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and other senior government officials.
On 16 July 2025, Abishaa Private Hospital in Vavuniya, in coordination with the Army Suwasahana Fund - a military welfare initiative - conducted a medical camp at the Security Forces Headquarters (Vanni) to assist soldiers with vision impairments. The programme was launched under the direction of Major General K.M.P.S.B. Kulathunga, Commander of the Security Forces (Vanni), with the support of senior officers.
Abishaa Hospital operates independently of the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps; however, its integration into a military welfare programme effectively facilitates military infiltration of the civilian hospital.
Public health and environmental hazards
On 27 June 2025, the Sri Lanka Navy, through the Naval Command Hospital (East) and in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, conducted first aid and emergency life-saving training for fishermen at the Muthur Fishery Harbour in Trincomalee. The programme covered “Basic Life Support, field triage, mental health awareness, addiction prevention, and pre-screening for non-communicable diseases".
On 5 July 2025, firefighters from SLAF Palaavi Station, alongside the District Disaster Management Coordinating Unit, Paalavi Municipal Council Fire Brigade, SLNS Thambapanni of the Northwestern Naval Command, and the Sri Lanka Army’s 58th Infantry Division, contained a fire at a garbage dump in Puttalam. The deployment of the 58th Infantry Division - a combat unit, not trained firefighters, to manage an environmental hazard despite firefighters already responding, demonstrates military dominance rather than operational necessity.
During the 2009 genocide, the 58 Division committed systematic human rights abuses, including summary executions, hospital and food line shelling, white phosphorus attacks on civilians, sexual violence, and enforced disappearances.
On 8 July 2025, the 6th Regiment of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (Rft) conducted a blood donation programme in the Eastern Province.
Housing
On 29 June 2025, troops from the 7th Battalion of the Gemunu Watch constructed and handed over the new house to a family in Punani, Batticaloa. The project was led by Major General P.K.W.W.M.J.S.B.W. Pallekumbura, Commander of Security Forces (East), and supervised by the 23rd Infantry Division General Officer Commanding. Supported by multiple sponsors, the event involved senior officers, military personnel, police, sponsors, and civilians.
Similarly, on 4 July 2025, the 9th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment constructed and handed over a house to a family in Sirimangalapura. Sponsored by the Department of Samurdhi Development and a private funder, the event was led by the Commander of Security Forces (East). These programmes reflect the military’s sustained agenda to assert its dominance over civilian affairs in the Tamil homeland.
