Kanthalai Massacre 1986

June 4, 1986 - June 5, 1986
Kanthalai, Trincomalee
Mass killing
50 +
Killed

What Happened

Kantalai is situated in the Trincomalee district. On 04-05 June 1986, near the 4th Milepost, Sri Lankan Air Force and home-guards stopped buses and identified the Tamils and attacked them. Many were killed, disappeared and injured.

On 05.06.1986, a bus with 25 passengers going from Trincomalee to Vavuniya was stopped and attacked. The bus was burnt. From the ashes 10 bodies were recovered including that of a child and a baby.

Over the two days, more than 50 civilians were killed and the fate of more than 35 civilians is not known.

Perpetrators

Sri Lankan Army

Sources & References

  • NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume I

Documented Victim Demographics

Based on victims with documented names and details

Documented Victims (10 names)

# Name Age Occupation
1 Bus victim 1 -
2 Bus victim 2 -
3 Bus victim 3 -
4 Bus victim 4 -
5 Bus victim 5 -
6 Bus victim 6 -
7 Bus victim 7 -
8 Bus victim 8 -
9 Child victim -
10 Baby victim -
Children (age ≤ 12)
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