The Vanni — the districts of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, and Vavuniya — was the heartland of the Tamil Tigers and the site of the most intense fighting in the final stages of the civil war. Agricultural land was left contaminated by landmines, irrigation systems were destroyed, and farming communities were displaced for years. Recovery has been slow and uneven.
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Agriculture in the Vanni: Recovering from the War's Devastation
Farmers in the Vanni are slowly rebuilding livelihoods destroyed by conflict, displacement, and landmine contamination.
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How Austerity Is Hollowing Out the Tamil North
IMF-driven spending cuts are falling disproportionately on the war-affected north and east, threatening fragile post-conflict recovery.
Breaking Down the Bond Deal: What It Means for Tamils
Sri Lanka's US$12.55 billion debt restructuring has been finalised, but economists warn that austerity measures will hit the north and east hardest.
Tamil Cinema's New Wave: Telling Stories the State Ignores
A generation of young filmmakers from the north and east are producing work that speaks to lived experiences of war, loss, and survival.