Vanapitha peiris in the protest
The Batticaloa Justice Walkreached its 1,030th day last week, as activists from the Movement for the People’s Council denounced the continued disregard of the Tamil people's demands in the North-East, even under Sri Lanka’s newly formed government.
The peaceful protest, which began as part of the Aragalaya movement, has persisted long after the end of mass anti-government demonstrations in the South. During the latest march from Kalladi Bridge to Gandhi Park, Vanapitha Jeevananda Peiris, a key figure in the Movement for the People’s Council, criticised the state’s continued failure to address the long-standing grievances of Tamils.
Vanapitha peiris in the protest
“The rights of the people in the North and East remain unfulfilled,” Peiris stated. “Justice for the disappeared and their rightful spaces have yet to be restored, even to this day.”
He stressed that despite changes in government, the fundamental demands for justice, land rights, and accountability have gone unheard. Even under Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s administration, Tamil families searching for their forcibly disappeared loved ones and those demanding the demilitarisation of their lands remain ignored.
The Movement for the People’s Council has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting for justice, despite the state’s continued silence and inaction. Peiris called on all oppressed communities to unite against the unjust system, declaring, “To change this unjust and unfair system and bring about real transformation, we, as the people, must unite.”
Vanapitha peiris in the protest