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The Sri Lankan navy hosted football training sessions for Tamil schoolchildren in the Jaffna peninsula last week, whilst concerns regarding militarisation of the North-East were raised at the UN Human Rights Council.
The Ministry of Defence reported the sessions were “initiated under the directions of the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne” and took place in Mandativu during the last week of June.
Since the end of the armed conflict the Sri Lankan military has increasingly become involved in civilian activities across the Tamil North-East, including with Tamil school children. Despite concern from Tamil politicians and international organisations, the militarisation of the North-East continues.