Rights Commission launches major study on North-East human rights concerns

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has launched a significant research initiative to assess the human rights landscape across the Northern and Eastern Provinces, regions that continue to grapple with the legacy of decades of armed conflict.

The study aims to identify and document entrenched structural obstacles that undermine the protection of fundamental rights and restrict socioeconomic opportunities for residents in conflict-affected areas. Researchers will examine multiple critical concerns including enforced disappearances, the discovery and management of mass graves, memorialisation processes, the extent of militarisation, surveillance practices, and patterns of intimidation affecting civilian populations.

By documenting these interconnected issues, the HRCSL seeks to establish an evidence-based foundation for policy recommendations and interventions that could advance accountability and reconciliation efforts. The research is expected to contribute to broader discussions on transitional justice and post-conflict recovery in Sri Lanka.

The Northern and Eastern Provinces remain focal points for human rights advocacy, with civil society organizations and international bodies consistently drawing attention to unresolved issues stemming from the country's three-decade conflict that concluded in 2009.