Puthukkudiyiruppu Iyankovilady Massacre

April 21, 1985
Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaithivu
Military massacre
30 +
Killed

What Happened

Puthukkudiyiruppu is situated in the Mullaithivu district 20 Kms from Mullaithivu town.

On 21.04.1985, SLAFs from Mullaitivu rounded up the village. Government employees were identified and released. People who did labour work for daily wages were taken in a military vehicle towards Oddisuddan.

Survivor account: "On the 21st April 1985, they arrived very early in the morning. We were still asleep. As our house was right next to Oddisuddan Road, we were unable to run anywhere. They rounded up people and took them to Puthupalavu Shop. They arrested me too. But because my mother came running towards them screaming and pleading to let me go – they did.

We heard a big explosion. We later found out that over 30 people were taken to a lane near Oddisuddan Road and shot. Most of the people died. The bodies were taken in one of the SLA vehicles to Oddisuddan Road and burnt with kerosene and tar."

Perpetrators

Sri Lankan Armed Forces

Sources & References

  • NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume I

Documented Victim Demographics

Based on victims with documented names and details

Documented Victims (22 names)

# Name Age Occupation
1 Kanakasunthram Karunanantham 39 Self Employment
2 Seeni Josep 32 -
3 Seeni Thevathas 24 -
4 Athiriyan Amalathas 19 -
5 Appaiya Inthiran 32 -
6 Raimenthu Iruthayanathan 45 -
7 Thamotharampillai 20 -
8 Manikkam Poulinrasa 21 -
9 Kiddinan 32 -
10 Sankarappillai Saththiyaseelan 21 Student
11 Anthonippillai Suvamippillai 32 Farmer
12 Sinkaratnam Ilanko 18 Student
13 Anthinippillai Daidsinssi 16 Student
14 Appaiya Puvanendiran 32 Farmer
15 Vinayakamoorththi Rakunathan 28 Self Employment
16 Periyathampi Balasuntharam 30 Coolie
17 Laxmanan 30 -
18 Victim 18 -
19 Victim 19 -
20 Victim 20 -
21 Thuraratnam Head of Multi Purpose Cooperative Society
22 Sivananthan Megambalam -
Children (age ≤ 12)