ITAK MP S. Shritharan has strongly condemned the overwhelming military presence in the North-East, accusing the Sri Lankan government of prioritizing military expansion over pressing social needs such as education and economic development.
Speaking in Parliament, Shritharan highlighted the disproportionate concentration of armed forces in Tamil-majority areas. “In Sri Lanka, there is one armed personnel for every 14 citizens. Which country that is not at war needs such a massive military presence?” he questioned. He further alleged that an estimated three-quarters of the Sri Lankan army is stationed in the North-East, occupying the Tamil homeland.
Shritharan provided first-hand accounts of military encroachment into civilian activities. During a recent visit to the occupying Palali military base, he claimed to have witnessed soldiers engaging in large-scale farming and harvesting of vegetables. “Which country makes its security forces engage in farming?” he asked.
Similarly, he recounted a visit to an army camp in Elankulam, where he alleged that security forces were involved in the distribution of alcohol and drugs—activities that he believes have negatively impacted Tamil youth in the region.
The MP also accused military personnel of establishing businesses such as salons, profiting at the expense of local Tamil communities. Meanwhile, he pointed out that the government allocates up to 400 billion Sri Lankan rupees annually to maintain the military, with 100 billion of that sum designated for administrative expenses. “This is at a time when the country is short of 43,000 teachers,” he stressed, questioning the government’s spending priorities amid an ongoing economic crisis.
Adding to his criticisms, Shritharan raised concerns about continued land grabs by the military, particularly in Valikamam, where he stated that security forces have taken over 2,700 acres of Tamil-owned land, affecting 13 villages. “Our own people are displaced on their own soil,” he said, lamenting the government’s lack of a concrete plan to return these lands to their rightful owners. “They have been provided no compensation, and neither their lands nor their rights have been restored.”
Shritharan’s remarks come as Sri Lanka faces renewed scrutiny at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. International bodies have repeatedly called for accountability for past and ongoing human rights violations against Tamils. However, the MP expressed skepticism over whether justice would be served. “Day by day, it seems that justice is becoming more elusive. Will the injustices done to the Tamils ever be addressed with real accountability?” he asked.
Tamil political leaders and human rights activists have long decried the militarization of the North-East, arguing that the continued presence of the army in civilian affairs is a deliberate tool of oppression. Despite multiple UN resolutions calling for land restitution and demilitarization, successive Sri Lankan governments have failed to implement meaningful reforms.