ADVOCACY DOSSIER: URGENT SITUATION REPORT (NOV 2025) 1. New Red Alert: The "Archaeological" Seizure of Thanthamalai Date of Incident: November 20, 2025 (1:30 PM) Location: Thanthamalai Murugan Temple, Batticaloa (Manmunai South West Division) Incident Report: According to a new statement from human rights activist Damodaram Prathivan, the Department of Archaeology has executed a sudden and coordinated move to claim the historic Thanthamalai Murugan Temple grounds. Action: Officials hastily erected signage declaring the area a "Thanthamalai Archaeological Site" at two strategic entry points: the Nappadutattai junction and near the police station adjacent to the temple. Context: This site, historically significant to Tamil Hindus, has long been targeted by the state under the Sinhalese name "Rahatgala," with claims that it sits atop an ancient Buddhist monastery. The erection of these boards is widely interpreted as the first administrative step toward s...

  State-Backed Buddhistization in Sri Lanka’s North and East: Political Policy, Military Mechanism, and Violations of International Law Editor's Note This analysis was compiled to provide a structured, accessible, and integrated perspective on a complex and highly sensitive post-conflict issue. The primary finding—that the state-backed designation of sites as "archaeological" and the subsequent military-led construction of Buddhist Viharas in Tamil-majority regions serve as a mechanism for  ethno-religious control and demographic alteration —is deeply concerning. The purpose of this document is to cut through fragmented reporting and provide a clear framework for understanding the policy, institutional, and legal dimensions of this strategy, thereby supporting advocacy efforts focused on minority rights, accountability, and genuine reconciliation. The use of strong, descriptive language reflects the gravity of the documented violations, including actions taken in defian...