Land disputes centred on access, control, and distribution remain a major challenge to peacebuilding in the North-East, according to a recent report supported by the UN Sri Lanka SDG Fund.
The report warns that post-conflict contestations over land frequently involve state actors, including the occupying military, as well as government agencies such as the Departments of Archaeology, Wildlife, Forest, and the Mahaweli Authority.
Between 2020 and 2024, 50 unresolved state-citizen land disputes were identified in the Eastern Province alone. These longstanding issues continue to hinder efforts towards resettlement and sustainable development in the region.
The Sri Lanka SDG Fund said it supported a range of initiatives in 2024 targeting the reintegration and recovery of conflict-affected communities in the North-East. Through a joint initiative by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), resettlement programmes focused on internally displaced persons, returnees, ex-combatants, and women-headed households.
It went on to details dfforts included improving access to livelihoods, shelter, legal identity, and public services across districts such as Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa.
However, the report concludes that while significant progress has been made in community development, income generation, and service delivery, the unresolved land disputes involving state agencies remain a major barrier to lasting peace and stability in the North-East.
The full report can be found here.