Madhu Church Massacre

November 20, 1999
Madhu, Mannar
Church shelling
44
Killed

What Happened

The Church of Our Lady of Madhu is one of the most sacred Catholic shrines in Sri Lanka, located in Mannar district. During the conflict, thousands of displaced Tamil civilians took shelter in and around the church complex, believing it to be a safe haven. On 20.11.1999, the Sri Lankan Army shelled the Madhu church complex where over 10,000 displaced civilians had taken refuge. 44 civilians were killed in the shelling, including women and children seeking sanctuary. The attack on this sacred site caused international outrage. The military claimed they were targeting LTTE positions, but survivors and church officials confirmed the shelling directly hit areas crowded with civilians.

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 (108 names)

# Name Age Occupation
1 Nikkalasjud Jalini 25 Teacher
2 Sooriyakumar Suganthan 22 Farmer
3 Inthiramohan Thadshajini 13 Student
4 Kalithasan Selvakumary 22 Housewife
5 Kiresu Selvarasa 39 Farmer
6 Kunaveerasingham 22 Housewife
7 Kunaveerasingham Suganja 9 (Child) -
8 Tharmalingham Tharmaneethan 10 (Child) Student
9 Tharmalingham Shanthakeethan 4 (Child) Infant
10 Thisaiveerasingham Mathyrajah 3 (Child) Infant
11 Muniyandi Uthayakumar 22 Farmer
12 Muniyandi Selvam 55 Housewife
13 Selvarasa Nirajah 9 (Child) Student
14 Selvarasa Rathan 12 (Child) Student
15 Veluppillai Tharmalingham 44 -
16 Santhiramohan Papitharan 6 (Child) Student
17 Santhiramohan Sujitharan 9 (Child) Student
18 Santhiramohan Suthakaran 9 (Child) Student
19 Santhiramohan Poomani 61 Housewife
20 Sivanantham Suganthini 22 Housewife
21 Sripaskaran Mainthini 3 (Child) Infant
22 Egamparam Rameswary 52 Housewife
23 Variththamby Pavani 17 Student
24 Sathasivam Mannan 21 -
25 Sooriyakumar Suganthy 23 Housewife
26 Navaratnam Rajeswary 58 Housewife
27 Kanagaratnam Variththamby 54 Farmer
28 Karunairasa Kapaskar 15 Student
29 Karunairasa Theivanai 49 Housewife
30 Kunaveerasingham Logeswary 10 (Child) Student
31 Kunaveerasingham Suveniya 20 Student
32 Thampappillai Thesaiveerasingham 46 Farmer
33 Thesaiveerasingham Mathyrajah 3 (Child) Infant
34 Thesaiveerasingham Ampigavathy 37 Housewife
35 Muthiah Sivanantham 26 Farmer
36 Jeyaram Jeyaseelan 18 Student
37 Sooriyakumar Selvarani 43 Housewife
38 Ramalingham Inthirani 17 -
39 Krishri Ranjini 36 -
40 Kanagaratnam Kumuthiny 13 Student
41 Popalasingham Muhilan 9 (Child) Student
42 Popalasingham Muththupillai 40 Housewife
43 Ketheswaran Dinoshan 3 (Child) Infant
44 Mohan Pajanan 9 (Child) Student
45 Sellathurai Sivarasa 38 Farmer
46 Santhirasegaram Amarasingham 35 -
47 Sivamalar 28 -
48 Sivarasa Malligathevy 35 Housewife
49 Sivarasa Varamsavally 10 (Child) Student
50 Sellathurai Rathakrishanan 36 -
51 S. Sathananthan 13 Student
52 Ramasamy Ketheswaran 24 -
53 Ketheswaran Jeyanthimalar 29 -
54 Ravi -
55 Valluvan -
56 Sritharan -
57 Egamparam Sivarajah -
58 Kathiravelu Sooriyakumar -
59 Yogarasa Pageerathan -
60 Yogarasa Nagenthiran -
61 Sathanantham -
62 Uthayaseelan -
63 Palasuntharam -
64 Kanthasamy -
65 Karthic Sivapathamalar -
66 Karthic Saththiya -
67 Karthic Kumaran -
68 Sripaskaran Kowsalya -
69 Sripaskaran Sayantha -
70 Sripaskaran Shangeetha -
71 Thiruckumaran -
72 Paviththira -
73 Thanushan -
74 Eswary -
75 Sugi -
76 Ampiga -
77 Saththiyavani -
78 Parameswary -
79 Nishanthan -
80 Suganthini -
81 Sivashakthy -
82 Sinthuya -
83 Tharmalingham Kamalthevy 33 -
84 Tharmalingham Uthayageetha 11 (Child) Student
85 Tharmalingham Kumuthageethan 6 (Child) Student
86 Ratnam Navaratnarasa 46 -
87 Navaratnarasa Manoranjitham 43 -
88 Navaratnarasa Agatheeswary 19 -
89 Navaratnarasa Santhirakanthan 11 (Child) Student
90 Navaratnarasa Thayalini 4 (Child) Infant
91 Navaratnarasa Thushyanthini 3 (Child) Infant
92 Ratnam Thaneswaran 29 -
93 Ratnam Rangamma 55 -
94 Ratnam Vijayalixsumy 17 -
95 Alagan Selvam 43 -
96 Selvam Kajan 4 (Child) Infant
97 Ilayathamby Uruckumani -
98 Ramalingham Thanaluxsumy 52 -
99 Kumarasamy Ketheeswaran 26 Farmer
100 Thayanithy 10 (Child) Student
101 John Thivakaran 13 Student
102 Kokulasarathy 59 -
103 Perumal Ravi -
104 Sarojini 32 -
105 Sivapathasuntharam Kamalanayagi 38 Housewife
106 Sripaskaran 29 -
107 Sripalsuntharam 50 -
108 F. Uthayasutha 12 (Child) Student
Children (age ≤ 12)
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