What Happened
On 25 October 2000, a Sinhalese mob armed with knives, machetes, and clubs attacked the Bindunuwewa Rehabilitation Centre in Bandarawela where Tamil youth aged 14-23 were detained. The attack followed a minor protest by detainees the previous day regarding mail delays. Police present at the centre did not intervene. The mob set fire to the halls and attacked inmates, with some victims thrown into the flames. Twenty-eight Tamil youth were killed (19 identified, 9 unidentified due to charred remains) and 14 were injured. Survivors included children as young as 11 and 12. The victims came from various districts including Batticaloa, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Mannar, and Amparai.
Perpetrators
Sinhalese mob with police complicity
Sources & References
- NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume I
- https://tamilnation.org/indictment/shadow_war/050602massacre