Directed by documentary filmmaker Baazir Kaleelur Rahman and produced in partnership with Activists Without Borders, the documentary explores the story of farmers in Eastern Sri Lanka fighting to protect their ancestral paddy lands from systematic land grabbing.

The film documents how the Muslim community, caught in the crossfire during Sri Lanka’s civil war, continues to face hardship years after the conflict ended. Through interviews, field research, and testimonies from affected farmers, the documentary highlights concerns over land access, displacement, restrictions on cultivation, and the arbitrary classification of traditional farming areas as forest reserves.

The documentary also examines how these challenges have affected the livelihoods of families who have depended on the land for generations, while raising concerns about alleged corruption and discrimination within Sri Lankan authorities. Wattamadu is one of the dozens if not hundreds of hidden, unresolved human rights issues that are yet to be addressed 17 years after the war ended.

Since its release, Wattamadu: The Stolen Harvest has attracted attention from civil society organisations, journalists, academics, and members of the public. Community screenings held across the country have generated strong engagement, particularly among activists and local residents who see the issues raised in the film as reflective of wider concerns affecting minority communities in Sri Lanka.

PRG Sri Lanka stated that the documentary was produced to promote awareness, informed discussion, and peaceful engagement on sensitive social issues affecting vulnerable communities.

Baazir’s continuing visual storytelling on human rights violations is once again reflected in this film. Wattamadu: The Stolen Harvest continues to be screened at community events and public discussions in Sri Lanka and internationally.