Sri Lanka List of concentration and internment camps

postcard boer war prisoner-of-war camp @ diyatalawa in 1900

in 1900, british war office constructed concentration camp in diyatalawa house boer prisoners captured in second boer war. constructed house 2,500 prisoners , 1,000 guards , staff, number of prisoners increased 5,000.

in late 2008, sri lankan civil war drew close, sri lankan government established number of camps hold displaced people managed escape war zone. between october 2008 , may 2009 290,000 displaced people moved camps in government controlled territory. these camps guarded sri lankan military , surrounded barbed wire. displaced people not allowed leave camps , aid agencies not allowed inside camps. camps described internment camps ngo s, journalists , aid workers.

the conditions in camps below minimum humanitarian standards. there reports of rape, torture, disappearances , arbitrary detention within camps. in may 2009, days before civil war ended, government gave assurances on 80% of displaced people resettled end of 2009. government failed honour commitment international concern grew on slow pace of resettlement. resettlement process accelerated in late 2009 not until september 2012, 4 years after established, camps officially closed.