Advocating for land rights and justice since 2011
The People's Alliance for Right to Land (PARL) is a voluntary coalition of civil society organisations and individuals, working together against land-grab, and land, housing, and environmental rights of communities around Sri Lanka, grounded in the principles of food sovereignty and environmental justice since 2011.
PARL brings together women small-scale farmers, fishing communities, plantation workers, activist, environmentalists, and their organisations fighting against the dispossession of people from their lands, fishing waters, and homes; and in solidarity with the struggles of displaced communities.
PARL aims to build a platform that unites campaigns and people's movements in all parts of the island – from the North, South, East, West, and the Malayaha communities – irrespective of the identity of the perpetrator or affected community. It advocates that duty-holders, primarily the State and its agencies should respect the rights of victim communities, as guaranteed in national laws and policies, international standards and norms, as well as those that have been enjoyed under customary rights and practices. PARL aims to bring together different people's struggles relating to land, housing, water, and food, whilst supporting and building resistance via national campaigns, and to regain the rights of affected people.
The mission of PARL is to become a strong people's movement that supports and represents community struggles.
Against land grabbing, landlessness, and discriminatory policies and laws that violate the right to land of women and other marginalised groups.
Support progressive policy and law reforms that ensure land rights of poor and marginalized people & protect the environment
“Sustainable use of land in Sri Lanka that safeguards and protects the rights of communities, especially those of the marginalized and vulnerable.”
Supporting communities facing land disputes and evictions threats.
Advocating for policy changes and legal reforms that protect land rights.
Research & Documentation of land rights violations, sustainable and just alternatives.
To amplify marginalized voices, raise public awareness, pressure government, and document land rights violations.
PARL recognizes that land is an inalienable right of a citizen. PARL will intervene in support of the individuals/ group when such a right is violated.
Land is a human right and should be non-discriminatory. We recognize individual rights as well as the right to the commons and the rights of marginalized (based on gender, caste, sexual orientation, etc.) within communities.
Non-discriminative and will support struggles of any community irrespective of their ethnicity, caste, religion, gender, geography etc.
We recognize the right of any citizen to use land in any part of the country for residence or other purposes without violently disrupting the status quo of the host community (livelihood/lifestyle) or destroying the environmental systems.
Land rights are inalienable to other rights of any human being: identity/culture, indivisibility.
Recognize the broad nature of the right to land with its connection to: livelihoods, identity, and culture. Not just legal ownership.
PARL identifies the capacity and ability within a community to fight for their rights/struggle. We will be intervening in this struggle, acknowledging the capacity of the community facing the issue.
PARL supports land policies that prioritize the needs of local communities and environment over the needs of the capital.