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High Security Zones (Sri Lanka)

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High Security Zones (HSZs) in Sri Lanka refer to specific geographic areas designated by the government as militarized zones with restricted civilian access, primarily for national security reasons. These zones have played a significant role during and after the Sri Lankan Civil War, particularly in Colombo, the Northern Province and Eastern Province, as well as other parts of the island.

Background

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During British colonial rule, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was a strategic location in the Indian Ocean, especially during World War II. In response to the threat of Japanese expansion in Asia, the British colonial administration established restricted military zones across parts of the island to safeguard key military installations, ports, and communication centers. These restricted areas included coastal zones and interior regions surrounding vital infrastructure, where civilian access was heavily controlled or prohibited to prevent espionage and sabotage. The establishment of these zones marked an early form of militarized control over territory in Sri Lanka, setting a precedent for future security measures.[1][2] The British military requisitioned private buildings for use as barracks and hospitals, these included private schools, as well as private residences such as Tintagel, Mumtaz Mahal, Obeyesekere Walawwa, Saifee Villa.[3]

Sri Lankan Civil War

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The concept of High Security Zones became prominent during the Sri Lankan Civil War, when the government declared large tracts of land, especially in the Northern and Eastern provinces, as militarized zones with restricted civilian access. These HSZs were intended to control areas of strategic importance, prevent Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) insurgency activities, and protect military bases and supply routes.[2][4]

The LTTE developed considerable conventional warfare capabilities, evolving from guerrilla tactics into a semi-conventional force. They employed heavy weaponry, including artillery, mortars, and rocket launchers, to conduct large-scale attacks on government forces and strategic installations. The LTTE’s use of indirect fire weapons such as mortars and artillery posed a significant threat to military bases, supply lines, and civilian populations near conflict zones. Shelling and rocket attacks were frequently launched from areas near civilian settlements, necessitating the establishment of buffer zones to protect both military personnel and civilians. Areas such as Jaffna Peninsula, Kilinochchi, and Mullaitivu were repeatedly targeted by LTTE mortars and artillery barrages. This heightened the military’s need to create High Security Zones, extending control over surrounding areas to deny LTTE fighters the ability to position and fire weapons close to government installations. HSZs functioned as buffer zones to prevent infiltration and surprise suicide attacks. By restricting civilian access and controlling land use within these zones, the military aimed to reduce risks of espionage, ambush, and indirect fire attacks from nearby militant positions. The HSZs safeguarded critical military installations, including airports such as Palaly, ports such as Trincomalee and Kankesanthurai, and supply routes essential for government military operations. These military considerations were cited by the Sri Lankan government to justify the size and duration of HSZs, despite the consequent displacement of local populations.[4][2][5]

Sri Lankan economic crisis

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In 2022, following the 2022 Sri Lankan protests, the government declared several areas in Colombo as High Security Zones these included the Parliament, the Supreme Court, the High Court and Magistrate Court in Colombo, Attorney General’s Department, Presidential Secretariat, President’s House, headquarters of the Armed Forces and Police, Ministry of Defence, Prime Minister’s Office, Temple Trees, residencies of Defence Secretary, Armed Forces Commanders and the IGP.[6]

Location and Extent

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Most HSZs were concentrated in the Northern Province—particularly in Jaffna Peninsula, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Vavuniya—and the Eastern Province, including areas around Trincomalee and Batticaloa. These zones encompassed military bases, former conflict battlegrounds, and areas critical to maintaining government control.[5]

Key HSZs include:

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The declaration and administration of High Security Zones in Sri Lanka are primarily grounded in the following legal instruments:

Public Security Ordinance (PSO), No. 25 of 1947

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The Public Security Ordinance, enacted shortly after independence, grants the government broad powers to declare areas as "security zones" during times of emergency or threat to public order. Under the PSO, authorities may impose restrictions on movement, assembly, and occupation of land within designated areas to maintain security.[7]

Emergency Regulations

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The Sri Lankan government has periodically promulgated Emergency Regulations under the PSO and other relevant laws, especially during the civil war and post-war periods. These regulations authorize the imposition of curfews, restricted movement, and seizure of property within HSZs, and provide legal cover for military actions within these zones.[8]

Official Secrets Act

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During the Sri Lankan economic crisis, the government used the Official Secrets Act to designate several areas as HSZs.[6]

Post war

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Although HSZs are justified under national security legislation, prolonged restrictions on civilians and denial of return to their lands raise questions under international human rights law, including rights to property, freedom of movement, and housing as outlined in treaties to which Sri Lanka is a party.[8]

In recent years, the Sri Lankan government has initiated efforts to return land previously designated as High Security Zones to its rightful owners. These efforts aim to address longstanding grievances related to displacement and land rights violations. In November 2024, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged to gradually return land occupied by state agencies since the end of the civil war in 2009. This commitment was made during a gathering in Jaffna, emphasizing the government's intention to correct historical injustices against Tamil and Muslim communities.[9] In May 2025, President Dissanayake distributed 1,286 land deeds to residents in the Jaffna district under the "Urumaya" program. This initiative is part of a broader effort to grant land ownership to citizens, with plans for further construction of homes in the Northern province.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Peebles, P. (1990). Colonization and Ethnic Conflict in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka. The Journal of Asian Studies, 49(1), 30–55.
  2. ^ a b c Uyangoda, J. (2006). The Sri Lankan State and Ethnic Conflict. Centre for Policy Alternatives.
  3. ^ "R.N.A.H. St. Peter's, Colombo". royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b International Crisis Group. (2010). Sri Lanka’s North I: The Denial of Minority Rights. Asia Report No. 191.
  5. ^ a b Human Rights Watch. (2009). Sri Lanka: Human Rights under Threat. Human Rights Watch Reports.
  6. ^ a b "Sri Lanka: Revoke Sweeping New Order to Restrict Protest". hrw.org. Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  7. ^ Government of Sri Lanka. (1947). Public Security Ordinance No. 25 of 1947. Colombo: Government Printer.
  8. ^ a b Amnesty International. (2012). Sri Lanka: Human Rights Concerns Persist Post-War. Amnesty International Publications.
  9. ^ "What does Sri Lankan President's promise to return state-occupied land mean for the Tamils?". New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  10. ^ "Granting of land rights opens doors to progress: President". Daily FT. Retrieved 2025-06-30.