The Sri Lankan military has intensified its involvement in Tamil schools across the North -East, under the banner of the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, as the militarisation of civilian spaces, especially educational institutions continues in the Tamil homeland.
On 14 March 2025, the 543 Infantry Brigade of the Sri Lankan Army conducted a “drug awareness event” at the Government Tamil Mixed School in Thalaimannar, distributing school supplies to 100 students. The programme was overseen by Major General A.M.C.P. Wijayarathne, Commander of the 54 Infantry Division. Despite being framed as a welfare initiative, the presence of uniformed military personnel in schools continues to draw concern from rights advocates and local residents, who view such activities as efforts to normalise military control in Tamil-majority areas.
Just days earlier, on 10 March, the 6th Battalion of the Gemunu Watch carried out a military-led cleaning operation at M/Mungilaru Primary School in Udayarkattu (South). The increasing frequency of military-led initiatives in Tamil schools, especially under seemingly benign banners like "Clean Sri Lanka", is viewed as part of a broader state strategy to entrench military presence and influence in everyday life.
On 8 March, the 542 Infantry Brigade organised a cultural dance competition at the Mannar Town Hall. While marketed as an event promoting Tamil cultural values, it involved significant military coordination and participation, including schoolchildren and local officials. Tamil civil society groups have criticised such events as attempts by the military to co-opt cultural and social spaces, and normalising military presence in schools.
The militarisation continued in Kokkilai, where on 27 February the Sri Lankan military, led by Major General D.R.N. Hettiarachchi and supervised by Colonel M.S.I. Aluwihare, conducted a school ground cleaning programme at the Mu/Kokkilai Government Tamil Mixed School.
Throughout March, troops under the Security Forces (East), commanded by Major General P.R. Pathiravithana, conducted a series of school cleaning and renovation activities in both Tamil and Muslim schools. Institutions included:
• Kayankeni Saraswathi College
• Kasira Vigneshwaram College
• Thambuvil Saraswathi College
• Hadanpitiya Tamil College
While authorities frame these initiatives as public service efforts, the pervasive involvement of military units has caused longstanding serious concerns. Tamils have long argued that these efforts undermine efforts at demilitarisation and are part of a wider pattern of the Sri Lankan state using military power to assert control over the Tamil homeland.
These recent developments come amid persistent calls by Tamil families, international human rights bodies, and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for meaningful demilitarisation and accountability. Despite repeated calls for demilitarisation, the Sri Lankan state continues to expand its military footprint across civilian life in the North-East, with Tamil-majority schools increasingly drawn into this apparatus.
