The People Unite for Justice and Accountability (PUJA) Project team visited the Badulla district, focusing on the villages of Passara and surrounding areas, to gather stories of enforced disappearances. The visit was part of ongoing effort to document 150 narratives of victims and survivors, shedding light on the devastating impact of Sri Lanka's civil war and enforced disappearances. These stories will be shared on puja.lk, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of those affected and fostering dialogue on justice and reconciliation.
The team met with families whose loved ones disappeared and heard their stories including those about Sandhanam Selvanadhan, Mariadhas Joseph and Francis Packiyanathan. These men, like many from the marginalised Malaiyaha Tamil community, left their homes in the 1990s seeking better prospects. Poverty and the lack of opportunities in their community led them to travel to conflict zones such as Kalmunai to work in rice mills, hoping to earn enough to support their families. Tragically, they never returned.
The Malaiyaha Tamil community, historically brought to Sri Lanka during British colonial rule to work on tea plantations, has long faced economic hardship, social exclusion and limited access to education and healthcare. They live on the margins of society, often invisible to the broader national narrative. This systemic neglect deepened during the civil war as many from the community sought work in war zones out of sheer necessity, unaware of the risks they faced.
Selvanadhan’s younger brother, Kurus Pillai, explained the hardship their family faced. "He left in 1990 to support us but we never saw him again. The last word we heard came from a lorry driver who told us to stop waiting." Virginy Joseph spoke of her husband, Mariadhas, who disappeared shortly after their marriage. "He sent me letters from Kalmunai about the dangers of war and then the letters stopped. It’s been 34 years and we still don’t know what happened." Francil Michael shared the pain of losing his brother, Francis Packiyanathan and the family's long search for answers.
The PUJA team ensured that the stories were collected ethically with full consent from the families. The initiative highlights the project's commitment to responsible storytelling, providing a platform for families to share their pain and their hopes for justice.
The project aims to build public support for justice and accountability across ethnic divides. By documenting and sharing these stories, the project seeks to honour the memories of the disappeared and amplify the voices of families who have long been marginalised. As the stories are prepared for publication, PUJA hopes to bring attention to the ongoing plight of these communities, advocating for truth, justice and recognition.
For the families, telling their stories is not just about recounting the past; it is about seeking justice and ensuring their pain is acknowledged. "We may never get them back," said Francil, "but by sharing our stories, we hope for some peace and acknowledgment of our pain."