Vavuniya High Court has ordered the Sri Lankan army to produce the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres who surrendered to the state's forces at the end of the armed conflict in May 2009 in court by next year. 

Speaking to the press, lawyer K S Ratnavel said that court delivered a verdict following the hearing of the habeas corpus petition relating to five cases of enforced disappearances, including Elilan, the LTTE's political head for the Trincomalee district.  Elilan was handed over to the Sri Lankan army by members of his family during the end of the armed conflict in 2009. His wife, Ananthy Sasitharan has spent years searching for her husband and campaigning for justice.  

During their testimony at the preliminary hearing at Mullaitivu Magistrate's Court, the Sri Lankan army stated that they had a list of surrendees but failed to submit the list to the court.  

As a result, Vavuniya High Court accepted the petitioner's allegation that those who had surrendered were in the custody of the Sri Lankan army. Therefore, they should be presented to the court by March 2023 or reasons relating to their enforced disappearances must be explained. K S Ratnavel told the press that the next three cases will be called to the court on January 27, 2023. 

At the end of the armed conflict, thousands of Tamils were handed over to the Sri Lankan state forces and have not been seen since. For years Tamil families across the North-East have called for information and answers from the state, with roadside protests across the homeland. To date, Sri Lanka has failed to fulfil any of their demands.