Trincomalee, June 25, 2025 –
9:30 AM: The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner arrived today at the Jubilee Hall in Trincomalee, where Mr. S. Sivayoganathan, a prominent human rights activist and the head of the Civil Society Consortium of Batticaloa District, met with the Commissioner and presented several pressing issues affecting the North and East of Sri Lanka.
During the meeting, Mr. Sivayoganathan highlighted the following critical concerns:
Ongoing land grabs in the Northern and Eastern provinces
Threats and intimidation faced by human rights defenders
The urgent need for an international investigation into enforced disappearances
Deliberate demographic changes aimed at altering the ethnic composition of the region
Encroachment by Buddhist viharas and associated violations
In addition to his oral presentation, a formal petition detailing these serious violations and demands for urgent international attention was handed over to the UN Commissioner.
This meeting is seen as a significant step in bringing international attention back to the systematic violations and structural injustices endured by the Tamil population in the North and East. Activists hope this will contribute to sustained global pressure on the Sri Lankan government to address long-standing human rights abuses.
Eelaththu Nilavan | 25/06/2025
