What Happened
During 1992-1993, the Sri Lankan Navy systematically massacred Tamil civilians crossing the Jaffna Lagoon through Kilali. Over 150 Tamil civilians lost their lives, 100 were permanently disabled, and another 150 sustained serious injuries. Civilians undertook these dangerous night boat journeys to travel south for medical treatment, contact relatives, or travel abroad. On 02.01.1993, four passenger boats developed engine trouble and drifted from the convoy. Navy boats surrounded them, personnel boarded and opened fire indiscriminately, hacked and stabbed passengers including the elderly, sick, children and women, and set one boat on fire. Red Cross volunteers retrieved 35 mutilated bodies over several days - many with gunshot and stab wounds, some burnt beyond recognition. Only 18 bodies could be identified. Two survivors escaped by jumping off when the Navy was towing boats to mid-sea.
Perpetrators
Sri Lankan Navy
Sources & References
- NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume I
- Red Cross Kilinochchi Letter dated 12.01.1993