The Sri Lankan military gained control of the entire traditional Tamil homeland in the North-East of Sri Lanka in 2009 and continues to act as an occupying force. Military structures are built on private land and its members engage themselves in civilian activities, including farming, business ventures and education. The majority of Sri Lanka’s military is deployed in the North-East, which makes up a third of its landmass and is home to less than 10% of the island’s population.